A letter from Richard

The TapStand Volume 2 Edition 3

Hi Friends,

In Uganda, the last few months have been full of worry. Everyone across the country has been living in fear of contracting the deadly Covid-19 virus.

In fact, it has changed our way of living.

People don’t have the freedom to move around like they used to. Places of worship, schools, hotels, bars, and public transport are now closed. Gatherings of any kind are also banned. This has created significant barriers for many in accessing basic amenities.

Sanitation and personal hygiene, especially hand washing, has also peaked across the country as it remains the only way to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Hence, we have been met with an increased need for reliable water supply at every home.

This makes breaking ground in KOTA even more significant.

Access to clean water will not only facilitate the practice of handwashing and household sanitation. It will also reduce the distance required to fetch water from unsafe sources and dramatically reduce the instances of water-borne diseases.

Growing up without clean water was a big problem. It was the reason why I was always late for school. Every morning, I had to first fetch water for my family, walking long distances alone, in fear of strangers and wild animals that could attack us. The water itself was not fresh or safe and often made us sick.

Breaking ground in KOTA will allow us to respond to the pandemic and meet the increased demand for water. Beyond that, it represents a new beginning for the people of Kogorogo and Muhaha, putting precious time back in their pockets while allowing them to embrace fresh opportunities.

Thanks to your kind contributions, we continue to build on our foundation of poverty alleviation by providing access to clean and safe water.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Musinguzi
ACTS Uganda Program Manager