23. March 2023

Water alleviates Awuru’s suffering and serves an entire community in Uganda

Fetching water: Awuru Amalia fills her jerrycan at the community well in Omugu

The 68-year-old used to have to walk 15 km from home every day to draw water from the river, with the biggest struggle being the journey home and lugging the heavy canisters.

Awuru Amalia smiles happily as she pumps water from a community well in Omugu (Uganda).

The 68-year-old used to have to walk 15 km from home every day to draw water from the river, with the biggest struggle being the journey home and lugging the heavy canisters.

“At my age, fetching water from a river is a pain,” she says, tapping her hip. She winces slightly as she remembers the pain in her joints.

“The cattle also used this river, it was polluted,” she says and grimaces.

She now visits the well every day, as it is right on her doorstep. She collects water for her vegetable patch for cooking, washing, bathing and drinking.

Although Awuru only has a small garden at home where she grows manioc, millet and beans, the rest of her community relies on agriculture for food and income. Most of the residents of her community, which is also home to many refugees, sell their surplus vegetables and milk at the nearby market.

“I only have a few pigeons, chickens and goats. But the others have more livestock and large fields. In the past, cows and goats also had to walk the long way to the river. Now they come here and there is no more cattle rustling,” she explains.

Watering the cattle: cows and calves drink from the nearby trough

While Awuru is talking, her neighbor comes in with her cows, who are thirstily drinking from the trough, which was built especially for this purpose to avoid wasting water. The neighbor’s two children also enjoy drinking directly from the well.

Awuru watches them and says with relief: “When we saw the water coming out, we couldn’t believe it. We were all happy, excited and so relieved. The water is clean! Now the children can drink and we no longer have to worry about all the diseases.”

She explains that the well was accompanied by training and the establishment of a water committee to ensure that the well is properly cared for and maintained.

The community decided that anyone who mistreated the well would no longer be allowed to use it.

“That put us off. Nobody wants to return to this fight,” says Awuru. “My community feels that hope has been restored and that their cries for help have been heard.”

Wasser Brunnen Kinder trinken Uganda

Refreshing water: Awuru’s little neighbors enjoy the fresh water.

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