Overview:
UBL has commissioned nine boreholes in Kumi and Apac, providing clean water to over 5,000 residents. Discover how this "Water for Life" project is transforming communities and supporting local development.
Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has commissioned nine community boreholes—five in Kumi and four in Apac districts—as part of its ongoing commitment to water stewardship and community development. This project will provide clean, safe water to more than 5,000 residents across the two districts.
The five boreholes in Kumi are located in the villages of Apuda, Kabwangasi, Kapasak, Oseera, and Acera. In Apac, the four boreholes were installed in Ayago Central, Amitenge/Omele, Iwal Village, and Baralop Cell.
The commissioning ceremony, held at Kapasak Village in Ongino Sub-County, highlighted UBL’s ‘Water for Life’ sustainability pillar. This initiative addresses the critical challenge of water scarcity in the region, where residents previously had to walk an average of 3.5 kilometers to access water.
“Water is our most important ingredient, but it’s also a precious shared resource under increasing pressure,” said Sheila Sabune, UBL’s Corporate Relations Director. “Through our ‘Water for Life’ program, we’re not just replenishing the water we use; we’re also addressing a fundamental human need that impacts education, health, and economic opportunities for entire communities.”
The project specifically targets water-stressed areas where the lack of access disproportionately affects women and children, who are traditionally responsible for fetching water. Sabune noted that this infrastructure development helps break cycles of poverty by allowing girls to stay in school and mothers to engage in income-generating activities. UBL has invested over UGX 5 billion in similar projects over the past five years.
Before these new water sources were established, long distances to water points contributed to increased school absenteeism and a higher incidence of waterborne diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, and typhoid.
Hon. Okaasai Opolot, MP for Kumi and Minister of State for Energy, expressed his gratitude, stating, “Our children can now focus on their education, and our women can engage in other productive activities that will improve our livelihoods.”
In addition to the boreholes, UBL distributed farming inputs, including gumboots, tarpaulins, and 1,200 kilograms of sorghum seeds, to 200 local farmers. This integrated approach supports the agricultural value chain that supplies sorghum for UBL’s brewing operations.
UBL has invested at least UGX 1 billion annually in water projects for over a decade. These projects align with the Ministry of Water and Environment’s national goal of providing all citizens with access to water within a one-kilometer radius.