Church Helps Community Meet Health and Sanitation Needs

Even to a town like Bugembe in Uganda that sits on the shores of Lake Victoria, clean water is a precious commodity when you have to walk several kilometers to obtain it, and then carry it home.  Therefore, the completion of 5 new bore holes, a protected spring, and the first public latrine were gratefully accepted by the mayor and the town council at a Handover and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.  

Mayor Stephen Wante  told those present, “Something done in kindness speaks more loudly than words.  By providing us with clean water you will help us reduce sickness.  You do not know how much you have done.  Now our mothers and children will be healthy.”

On Monday, October 13th, prior to the handover, city officials toured the project sites with the contractors and Elder and Sister Hannan, Humanitarian Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The project was funded by the Humanitarian Department of the Church.

Following this tour, town officials, Church leaders, members of the Village Health Team, and others joined together for the Handover Event at the newly completely latrine site.  The program consisted of speeches from town officials, Elder and Sister Hannan, Moses Mbiro (leader of the Church in the Jimja area), one of the contractors, the property donor, and others.  Mayor Wante commented, “This is the first public toilet in Bugembe.  This facility and the water projects will service approximately 20,000 people.”

The community's surroundings painted a poignant picture of the need for the project.  At the newly completely water points, many people were already lined up with jerry cans waiting for their turn.  Many homes surrounded the newly completed latrine with numerous children and mothers looking on.  Town Clerk, Davis Gulaale, expressed the feelings of many in the community when he said, “I am grateful to work with a Church that not only looks at the soul, but looks at the health of the people.”