Northern Uganda experiences floods and drought, impacting water supply, hygiene and health and livelihoods.

These floods and drought seem to become more extreme, possibly linked to climate change

Climate change worsens water scarcity, floods and contamination and a resilient water system is fundamental for human health, socio economic development and community adaptation to climate impacts.

Ensuring reliable safe and accessible water for drinking, sanitation and other uses is crucial for a community to withstand and recover from climate-related shocks like droughts and extreme weather events. 

This is the thinking of experts from the SVV Netherlands Development Organisation, as such coming up with a three year project of climate resilient clean water initiative in Northern Uganda climate-resilient and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (SWaSSH4A).

The project that been implemented in partnership with Global Forum for Development (GLOFORD), Caritas Lira and the local governments of Alebtong, Dokolo, Kole and Lira, with funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation worth 1.7 million Euros has improved access to inclusive, services for people across Northern Uganda.

Overview of Project implementation

The project manager John Robert Okelloexplained that SWaSSH4A is the latest in a series of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions, following Improving Water Supply Sustainability (IWAS I & II) and Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All (SSH4A).

Together, these efforts have established a strong foundation for sustainable water and sanitation systems that put communities at the centre of development.

The approach focuses on strengthening community and local institutional capacity for managing and maintaining water sources, implementing sustainable financing mechanisms for repairs and providing technical assistance for climate-resilient water system design and implementation. 

The project which is ending soon to has impacted on more than 238,581 people who have gained access to safely managed sanitation through the construction and upgrading of over 6,000 latrines, while 42,905 people benefited from water rehabilitation points.

An additional 324,750 people maintained access to safe water through strengthening operations and maintenance systems. 

Improved hygiene behaviours led to 26,635 people installing handwashing facilities with soap and water near their toilets.

To sustain these gains, 34 Sub-County Water Supply and Sanitation Boards were equipped and trained to improve service delivery, alongside four Hand Pump Mechanics Associations and 120 trained mechanics, including women and youth, who now manage and maintain rural water supply infrastructure.

The head of the Austrian embassy in Uganda Dr Katja Yvonne Kerschbaumer notes that it the fundamental right for every Ugandan to have access to safe water regardless where they leave though this is infringed by climate change effects.

Giving the statics, she indicated that between 61%-^9% of people leaving in rural areas have access to safe water compared to 71-79% in urban areas.

However she is of the view that more work has been to done to ensure more people in rural areas access safe water including farmers who can use water for food production.

To her the project addressed some of the challenges caused by climate change effects that hinder the rural communities from accessing safe water especially in Northern Uganda.

How climate change impacts water supply

Okello explained that climate change leads to more frequent and intense droughts, reducing the availability of surface and groundwater and intense rainfall can overwhelm water systems, causing floods that contaminate water sources and damage infrastructure.

Changes in rainfall patterns and increased runoff can carry more pollutants from land use and land degradation into water sources, a problem exacerbated by factors like deforestation and agricultural practices.

When water sources are scarce or polluted, it costs more to provide clean water due to the need for alternative sources, more storage and advanced treatment. These are some of factors affecting the identified districts in Northern Uganda.

How resilient water systems enhance climate resilience

Access to clean water and sanitation is a human right and a foundation for health. Without it communities are more vulnerable to water-borne diseases, especially as climate change can increase disease risk.

A secure water supply is vital for agriculture, businesses and daily life and without it, a community's ability to thrive is compromised.

Resilient water systems, such as those with diversified sources and robust infrastructure, allow communities to better manage the effects of both too much and too little water.

Competition for scarce or contaminated water resources can lead to local and regional conflicts and ensuring reliable access can mitigate this risk. 

 Building a climate-resilient water supply

Okello further explained that his team worked with local government leaders in the four districts and this was mainly to coordinate the communities

The team managed to implement integrated water resource management systems, improving watershed management.

In as far as infrastructure is concerned the team managed to ensure that the designed to withstand climate impacts, such as flood-proof storage and resilient distribution networks was observed.

This required sensitizing the communities to construct their pit latrines on land which is not prone to flooding to avoid the structures being washed away.

The same applied to the rehabilitated boreholes and newly constructed ones as well. The materials used to construct and rehabilitate the boreholes were carefully selected and the team choose to use steel made materials which cannot corrode easily.

The team rehabilitated 54 boreholes in 324 counties. Since safe water issues go hand in hand with hygiene, this means safe water sources must be available to improve sanitation. This will reduce disease burden brought about as a result of climate change effects.

The previous projects according to Okello looked at the challenge of water supply but this one addressed the issue of hygiene.

To address the challenge of water for farm production especially during drought, the team is looking at setting up motorised systems which farmers can use to pump water for irrigation.

Farmers need water for fish farming and those keeping livestock, water is crucial.

Local community voice

The resident district commissioner for Dokolo District Ms Jillian Akullu Omara notes that the challenge of climate change effects in Northern Uganda is immense and this affects water safety for the communities.

To her the district water points are not enough to serve the communities and the rehabilitation done by SNV team was timely

In her district there is only one water point in terms of borehole per every county and this cannot serve the entire community including schools.

She called upon the government to collaborate with development partners to enough more water points are constructed in districts with integration of schools.

To help mitigate the climate change with frequent droughts in Northern Uganda she is of the view that dams must be dug to provide water for livestock farmers and irrigation schemes to cater for farmer needs.