KIRYANDONGO, Uganda — Two new solar-hybrid piped water supply systems are transforming daily life for about 165,000 refugees and host community members in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, ending long treks for water.
The systems, funded by the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Lutheran World Federation, now provide safe, reliable water in mid-western Uganda.
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For refugees like Habib Ahmad, 30, who fled Sudan’s conflict and arrived in Jan. 2025, the change is dramatic.
“I used to spend almost the whole day walking three kilometers to the water point,” Ahmad said. “Now, I just walk a few meters. It takes me 10 or 15 minutes, and I’m done. People were really suffering.”
Liam Kelly, the head of EU Humanitarian Aid in Uganda, said the project demonstrates the EU’s commitment to “greening its humanitarian aid” through sustainable and life-saving assistance.
“By investing in solar energy and resilient water systems, we are building a better future for the most vulnerable,” Kelly said.
The innovative systems, completed between July and Oct. 2025, are already serving Clusters C and G of the settlement, which hosts refugees who have fled insecurity in South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya.
The hybrid design draws water from deep production wells using submersible pumps. The pumps are powered by 45 solar panels during the day and are backed up by diesel generators at night or during cloudy weather. Water travels through 2.6 kilometers of transmission lines to reservoirs, then through 4.6 kilometers of distribution pipes to 22 public standposts, where residents collect water free of charge.
Dr. Robin Nandy, UNICEF’s representative to Uganda, expressed gratitude for the EU’s support.
“Access to clean water is a fundamental right for children and their families,” Nandy explained. “Now that the two systems have been completed, we are optimistic that the refugees and host communities will no longer have to trek long hours in search of this basic service.”
Before the installation, the settlement’s water availability had fallen to just 9 liters per person daily, well below the humanitarian standard of 20 liters. The new systems are expected to raise the daily availability to at least 20 liters per person.
The project replaces costly water trucking, which had been the primary source of water following a surge of refugees in 2023 that outpaced existing infrastructure. The improved access is expected to reduce the time spent by women and children on water collection, allowing them to focus on other chores, attend school or participate in income-generating activities. It also reduces the risk of diarrheal illnesses and skin infections.
The water systems will also benefit 4,000 learners at Canrom Primary School in the settlement.
