KOFIH, OPM Commission New Safe Water , Hygiene Facilities in Busoga

KOFIH, OPM Commission New Safe Water , Hygiene Facilities in Busoga

The handover of a WASH infrastructure at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital

The Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) Uganda Office, in partnership with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), has commissioned and handed over a new batch of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in Jinja City and Iganga District as part of efforts to reduce waterborne diseases in the Busoga region.

The two-day commissioning exercise, conducted between August 5 and 6 with support from the Community Chest of Korea, marked the completion of the second year of the KOFIH-OPM Busoga WASH Project on Waterborne Disease Reduction and Prevention.

The newly commissioned facilities include drinking water filtration systems and handwashing stations installed at Victoria Nile Primary School, Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Masese Landing Site and the Iganga District Local Government headquarters.

The facilities were officially handed over by KOFIH Uganda Country Director Juwang Baik alongside the Office of the Prime Minister's Principal Health Officer, Linda Ruvwa. The ceremonies were witnessed by local leaders, including the Deputy Resident City Commissioner of Jinja City and the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Iganga District.

Beyond the handover, the delegation carried out technical inspections, water quality assessments and functionality verification to ensure the new facilities were fully operational. The team also visited previously donated facilities at Bunyiiro Primary School, Bulubandi A Central Village and Iganga General Hospital to assess their performance, maintenance arrangements and long-term sustainability.

Speaking during the handover, Baik said the project goes beyond infrastructure development by ensuring communities are equipped to manage and sustain the facilities.

"The official handover of these facilities marks a vital step in our commitment to improving public health in the Busoga Region. Through strong partnerships with OPM, MoH and local governments, we are delivering safe water infrastructure and ensuring local stakeholders are equipped to manage and sustain these resources for the future."

The Office of the Prime Minister welcomed the continued collaboration, describing the project as an important contribution to disease prevention and improved public health.

"The Government of Uganda, through the Office of the Prime Minister, appreciates the continued partnership with KOFIH. These unique WASH facilities will significantly contribute to reducing waterborne diseases and improving the quality of life and education for our communities by ensuring reliable service delivery," said Linda Ruvwa, Principal Health Officer at OPM.

As part of promoting sustainability, facility operators, caretakers and management committees were engaged during the commissioning process to strengthen governance, routine maintenance and operational management of the facilities. Beneficiary institutions also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the infrastructure and ensuring continuous access to safe water.

Iganga District Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Onyait Silver Ochan said the district has already established management structures to guarantee the long-term operation of the facilities.

"The newly commissioned facilities represent a major milestone for our district. With clear management committees now in place, Iganga District is fully prepared to sustain these facilities for long-term community benefit."

The project has also been welcomed by beneficiaries.

Victoria Nile Primary School Headteacher Livingstone Mbago said the new facilities would improve the health and well-being of learners.

"It gives us the confidence to keep our learners safe and healthy while they are at school, and we are committed to maintaining it properly."

For the learners themselves, access to clean drinking water and proper hygiene facilities is expected to improve both health and learning outcomes.

"We are very happy to have clean and safe drinking water right here at our school. We can now wash our hands properly, drink clean, safe water and stay healthy to focus on our studies," said Apio Abigail, a pupil at Victoria Nile Primary School.

The KOFIH-OPM Busoga WASH Project seeks to strengthen access to safe water and sanitation services in schools, health facilities and communities as part of broader efforts to reduce the burden of waterborne diseases and improve public health in eastern Uganda.