Improved access to water key in addressing domestic and gender-based violence
The Kapebyong District Chairman Francis Akorikin, said that Olilia B Village has never had any source of water ever since it was created. As a result, he said people would walk kilometers to fetch water for use.
Kapelebyong District leaders have said that improved access to water is key to addressing domestic and gender-based violence in the district. This, they said as Uganda Breweries Limited commissioned 10 boreholes at Olilia B Village, Okungur Sub-County, Kapelebyong District on 31st October 2023.
The commissioned boreholes will serve 4,800 people in the districts of Kapelebyong, Katakwi, and Bukedea, and they are worth UGX 307m.
The Kapebyong District Chairman Francis Akorikin, said that Olilia B Village has never had any source of water ever since it was created. As a result, he said people would walk kilometers to fetch water for use.
“Because of the lack of water, there were issues of domestic and gender-based violence experienced by women. Women are the ones who use manual labor to collect water, and traveling long distances in search of water has been creating social tension between women and men.” Akorikin said.
“Now that water has come nearer, we expect positivity in terms of relationships between men and women, safe and productive families, and good relationships at the family level,” he added.
The Uganda Police Force (2016-2021) crime reports indicated that there were 272,737 GBV cases between 2016 and 2021, with 2,278 homicides attributed to intimate partners. According to the reports, domestic violence cases account for 33% of the female homicide caseload.
A 2019 survey report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Teso and Karamoja subregions indicated a correlation between water scarcity and Gender-Based Violence. In all the districts where the study was conducted, women and girls were reported to be the most affected group by GBV during water scarcity scenarios.
Olupot Samuel, the Local Council I Chairman Olilia B Village said that to access water (which is unprotected), people had to travel for over 5 kilometers and this would affect productivity at a family level.
“I want to applaud Uganda Breweries Limited for choosing this village. I had so many cases of Gender Based Violence, teenage pregnancies, and school dropouts which I believe will now be mitigated because of this development,” Olupot said.
The LCV boss assured Uganda Breweries that the locals will ensure the sustainability of the water project for its longevity.
“I give you my assurance that people here will ensure the sustainability of this water project. Already they have put up a fence to ensure that the area around the borehole is kept clean; they are contributing to making the water source better,” he said.
The Soroti Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Salim Komakech, who represented the State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang, said that Uganda Breweries Limited isn’t providing water to the people of Teso, but it’s doing it countrywide to supplement the work of government.
“Because the government has pacified the security of this country, we can have strategic investments like this. This area still has unutilized land, why can’t you use it to produce sorghum that Uganda Breweries needs to produce beer?” He pondered.
During the handover ceremony, Damon Ansell, the Director of Corporate Relations for Africa at Diageo – UBL’s parent company – said that the business supports programs that improve the communities within which they operate all over the world.
“Our commitment to sustainability is outlined in our Society 2030: Spirit of Progress agenda – which is a programme through which we work to create a more inclusive and sustainable world. One of the ways we do this is by supporting initiatives that preserve and replenish this critical resource, particularly in water-stressed areas.”
Juliana Kagwa, UBL’s Corporate Relations Director, emphasized the company’s commitment to the well-being of the communities within which it operates. She said that access to clean water is not just a basic human right but also a fundamental necessity for the growth and prosperity of any community.
“Access to clean and safe drinking water remains a significant challenge in Uganda, and while there have been improvements in recent years, a substantial portion of the population – particularly in rural areas – still lacks access to clean water and sanitation facilities. By providing this vital resource, Uganda Breweries Limited has taken a commendable step towards empowering the people of Teso and enabling them to lead healthier and more productive lives,” Kagwa stated.
