COMMUNITY ADVOCACY BRINGS CLEAN WATER TO NEBBI

Through targeted budget advocacy, our partnership with local leaders and the Ministry of Water has transformed access to clean water in Nziri-East village and beyond. A solar-powered water system, constructed by Nexus Green and launched in January 2025, now serves Jupanziri HC III, Pucaka Primary School, and Jupanziri Trading Centre, upgrading the water source from a borehole to a reliable tap system.

This project is set to benefit not only Nziri-East but also nine additional villages and two institutions, showcasing the impact of collaborative efforts in improving lives and promoting sustainable development. Your support has made this achievement possible, and we’re grateful for your partnership in bringing clean water to those who need it most.

Building on this momentum, our partnership with Oxfam under the Fair for All project empowered local communities to take charge of their development. Through the Participatory Budget Model, we worked with the Agency for Community Empowerment (AFCE) to establish participatory budget clubs in Erussi Sub-County, Nebbi District. These clubs comprised 22 diverse community members, including youth, persons with disabilities, women, and men.

By engaging in planning, budgeting, and monitoring service delivery, community members actively held duty bearers accountable and successfully influenced change. This demonstrates the power of inclusive participation in shaping their own futures, showcasing the impact of collaborative efforts in promoting community-led development.

The Participatory Budget Clubs (PBCs) in Erusi Sub-County identified inadequate access to clean water as a critical issue. In Nziri-Eastern village, residents had previously relied on a polluted stream, which led to frequent disease outbreaks, especially typhoid. Although the Nebbi Local Government drilled a borehole in 2020, it soon became insufficient to meet the growing needs of over 1,000 households, including those from nearby villages.

The situation was dire, with long queues and significant inconveniences for residents, especially those from distant areas. Institutions like Jupanziri HC III, Pucaka Primary School, and Jupanziri Trading Centre also struggled to access enough clean water, exacerbating the crisis. Some villages, such as Agwechi Lower and Agwechi Upper, relied on a single clean water source serving over 500 households, while others, like Kubbi-Culmuk, had no access to clean water at all, resorting to the contaminated Cido River.

Recognizing the urgency of the water crisis, empowered PBC members who applied their knowledge of budget monitoring and initiated advocacy efforts in 2022. They mobilized other community members, amplifying the need for improved access to clean and safe water. Through sustained advocacy, they engaged sub-county and district leaders, pushing for a long-term solution to the water scarcity problem.

Their efforts paid off, with district leadership petitioning the Ministry of Water for support. As Okello Anthony James, LC I Jupanziri Trading Centre, noted:

“We have an area called Jupanziri trading centre and Jupanziri health centre III. The water level is high, and during the budget conference organized by CSBAG and the sub-county, the community advocated for a piped water system. Indeed, the district had to petition the Ministry of Water, and the Ministry had to provide us with piped water. Consequently, we will now have access to safe water.”

 This community-led advocacy demonstrates the power of collective action in driving meaningful change.

In response to the community’s plea and the PBCs’ advocacy efforts, the Ministry of Water intervened in 2023, assessing the site and confirming the water level’s sufficiency to support an upgraded supply system. The Ministry contracted Nexus Green to construct a solar-powered water station, aiming to benefit 10 villages in Pucaka Parish, Erusi Sub-County, by providing households with direct access to clean water. This initiative resulted from a CSBAG-sponsored community dialogue and budget conference, which received strong support from district and sub-county leadership.

The project came to reality in August 2024, with construction beginning at the same location as the original borehole. After completion, the system underwent capacity testing in late November 2024 and was officially commissioned in January 2025. The new water station features two water points, one at Jupanziri Trading Centre and another at Jupanziri Health Centre III, ensuring a reliable water supply for the community. This upgrade has significantly improved hygiene conditions and service delivery at the health centre, where the Clinical Officer in charge confirmed that the previous congestion at the borehole created challenges for the maternity ward and cleaning staff.

The impact of the project is best captured in the words of Mr. Ogenrwoth Oscar, Clinical Officer In-Charge of Jupanziri HC III: “What I know to get this water here it was a collective effort, maybe if CSBAG didn’t play its role, this water wouldn’t be here. Now what we need to do is to push this water to reach the OPD, the lab and in-patient wards and get some handwashing points for the staff, but for this water here, we are really very grateful and it’s a great success.”

A community member described the previous hardships, including long distances to fetch water and extended wait times at the borehole. She expressed relief that now, water is always available, reducing daily struggles and improving the overall quality of life for residents. This transformation has brought significant joy and relief to the community, showcasing the human impact of our collective efforts.

The success of this initiative can be attributed to the empowered farmer group PBCs, whose capacities were enhanced in budget monitoring, expenditure tracking, and advocacy for gender-responsive service delivery. Their cordial relationship with sub-county officials and commitment to voluntary engagement have been instrumental in driving change. This project demonstrates the power of citizen participation in governance, highlighting how collective action can lead to meaningful and lasting improvements in service delivery. We’re grateful for the support that made this possible and look forward to continuing our work in empowering communities.