Uganda Breweries hands over 10 boreholes worth Shs307m in Teso sub-region

Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) Wednesday handed over 10 hand pump boreholes worth Shs307m to communities in Teso sub-region. The boreholes will serve 4,800 people in districts of Kapelebyong, Katakwi and Bukedea.

The boreholes were officially received by Soroti District Resident Commissioner Salim Komaketch who represented the Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang during a ceremony held at Angopet Olilia B village, Okungur Sub-county, Kapelebyong District.

Komaketch said Teso has long faced challenges related to water scarcity, adding that many communities have had to rely on unclean water sources which lead to health issues and affect overall community well-being.

“This project stands as a testament to the positive impact that responsible corporate initiatives can have on society. As the Teso sub-region embraces this transformative change, the hope is that other organisations will be inspired to undertake similar efforts, ultimately leading to a brighter and healthier future for all Ugandans,” he said.

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.

Like several sub-Saharan countries, Uganda faces the challenge of a growing number of people who have limited or no access to safe drinking water, which calls for concerted efforts from different stakeholders to address.

Juliana Kagwa, UBL’s Corporate Relations Director, emphasised the company’s commitment to the well-being of the communities within which it operates. He 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 said.

UBL has so far invested over Shs20 billion in water and sanitation projects across Uganda benefitting over 2 million people.

Some of the projects include a Shs335 million piped water supply system in the Buwali sub-county of Bududa district that has benefitted over 2,000 residents, the construction of 37 boreholes in the Acholi sub-region and the implementation of a Shs1 billion water and sanitation project in Bulangira, Kibuku District in partnership with Water Aid Uganda.

Similarly, in 2022, UBL commissioned 20 boreholes estimated at Shs560m to communities in the Northern and North-Eastern sub-regions of Lango and Teso that have since benefitted over 9,000 people in the districts of Oyam, Lira, Kapelebyong, Katakwi and Bukedea.