Northern Uganda Rehabilitation Programme has commissioned all 44 boreholes earmarked for support under the Post Floods Rehabilitation Programme.

According to Mr. Martin Wabwire, the Programme Officer/Planner for the Post Floods Programme, 27 were newly drilled while 17 were rehabilitated.

Speaking at the commissioning of 14 boreholes in Kaberamaido District, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Mr. John Eresu noted that clean drinking keeps the population healthy.

Other beneficiaries are Katakwi District with 20 boreholes, Soroti with 6 and Amuria with 4. The boreholes are part of the € 1.4 million provided by the European Union to rehabilitate social infrastructure destroyed by the 2007 floods in Teso.

According to Soroti District Water Officer, Mr. Peter Opwonya, the 6 newly drilled boreholes in the district will serve 1800 people (300 per borehole), raising access to water in the district from 74% to 78%.

The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Kaberamaido, Ms. Roselyn Adongo Luhoni thanked NUREP for involving the local communities in the projects. She revealed that contractors have been on their toes owing to the vigilance of the Project Management Committees.

She further noted that NUREP’s projects are of “high quality, high standards and value for money.”

Mr. Reint Bakema, the Programme Manager, NUREP, commended the speed at which the Post Floods Programme is being implemented. He thanked the District Local Governments in Teso for the support and ownership of the projects in their districts. He noted that under the project, over 10,000 people will have access to water in the four districts.

A total of 65 infrastructural projects are being supported under the Post Floods Programme. Several schools, health centres, roads and district administration buildings are undergoing rehabilitation works which will be completed by September 2010.