Alango Sub County Community in Otuke District Urged to Maintain Clean Water and Sanitation to Fight Poverty

 

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Otuke, Mr. Abudul George, has called on the community of Alango Sub County to prioritize clean water and sanitation as essential tools in the fight against poverty. He made this statement today while commissioning 20 boreholes, including 10 newly drilled and 10 repaired, through the support of the NGO Link to Progress. The initiative, valued at over UGX 600 million, aims to improve water access in the region.

In his remarks, RDC Abudul emphasized the critical link between clean water and poverty reduction. "Poverty and lack of clean water go hand-in-hand. A key component to eliminating poverty is ensuring access to safe water. When water supplies are improved and sustainable, it significantly enhances a community’s economic growth and reduces poverty," he said.

Abudul highlighted the struggles of women and children who often spend up to six hours each day fetching water. This task limits women’s opportunities to engage in income-generating activities and severely cuts into children’s time for education, inhibiting their personal and community development.

"When any part of a community is marginalized in this way, the entire social and economic fabric of the area suffers," he explained. He expressed gratitude to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government for creating a conducive environment that attracts development partners like Link to Progress to supplement government programs aimed at improving livelihoods.

Link to Progress, a Dutch-funded organization established in 2009, has been instrumental in supporting communities across Northern Uganda through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs, as well as education and other development initiatives.

The RDC applauded the efforts of Link to Progress, noting that such partnerships are key to advancing the government's goals of sustainable development and poverty reduction. He urged the community to maintain the newly commissioned water facilities, stressing that clean water and proper sanitation are vital for long-term prosperity.

With the commissioning of these boreholes, the residents of Alango Sub County are expected to see improvements in health, education, and economic productivity, as less time will be spent on water collection and more on activities that can lift them out of poverty.