ICOD Action Network

Water Extension to vulnerable and HIV/AIDS affected households

Lyantonde district lies in the geographical Ankole – Masaka cattle corridor; a dry zone with savannah grass lands, thorny acacia shrubs and many semi arid zones. The district is usually hit by severe dry spell between June and September. The average annual rainfall is about 750mm to 1000mm and the annual maximum temperature is about 29 degrees centigrade. There has been a drastic increase in temperature in the district leading to severe drought, which is attributed to encroachment on fragile ecosystems of wetlands, bush burning and deforestation. Drought has also led to drying up of open water sources and over 70% of boreholes.

The district has two rain seasons; the 1st runs from March to May and the 2nd from August to November. At the beginning of this years 1st planting season, ICOD distributed free planting seeds to vulnerable households, one primary school and three farmers groups to build their capacity to produce enough food for their communities and sustain themselves. However due to severe drought, all beneficiaries lost their crops making them more vulnerable. The most affected are child headed households, orphans families and the primary school supported by the organization. Local government records indicate that over 95% of rural farmers also lost their crops to drought

Data from the Directorate of Water Services in Uganda shows that the percentage of access to improved / safe water sources is about 55% at national level, compared to less than 48% in Lyantonde District. Absence of water sources was identified as a key problem and households identified water supply as a priority in Lyantonde.Time taken by children to fetch water was also identified as a problem because it affects children’s school attendance and performance. Average walking distance to nearest water sources (safe or unsafe) is 4 kilometers and the burden of collecting water is on women and children. ICOD has intervened by costructing Ferro-cement water tanks for the most vulnerable households in Lyantonde rural sub county.