By Iddi Wakibi
More than 500 traders and residents from 16 neighbouring villages who depend on Kabagarame Market in Sembabule District are set to benefit from improved sanitation and water access.
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Ltd has commissioned a 10-stance drainable pit latrine block with separate sections for male and female users. The facility is located near the company’s Main Camp and Pipe Yard 3.
The block is equipped with ventilation, lighting and privacy features, while the surrounding compound has been landscaped to promote a clean and safe environment. The project also includes a rainwater harvesting tank to improve water availability at the market.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, EACOP Deputy Managing Director John Bosco Habumugisha said access to clean water and proper sanitation is essential to community health and productivity.
“Access to clean and safe water remains a significant challenge in Uganda. By providing this vital resource, we have taken a commendable step towards empowering the people of Kabagarame Market and enabling them to lead healthier and more productive lives,” Habumugisha said.
The Assistant Resident District Commissioner of Sembabule District, Brian Rwamalinga, welcomed the intervention, saying access to proper sanitation is central to community dignity and wellbeing.
“There is no greater social dignity than access to proper sanitation and water. This facility has very ably addressed that need,” Rwamalinga said.
The Kabagarame facilities form part of EACOP’s wider community investment programme, which focuses on priority needs identified within the company’s project footprint.
The programme is implemented under five pillars: Future Generations, Environment, Community Health and Safety, Water Solutions, and Sustainable Energy.
In Sembabule, EACOP has also supported 14 water-harvesting facilities in Buzirandulu, Kiteredde and Njaza to improve water availability and help communities cope with water-related challenges.