From the Source Up: Community-Led Water Management in Kakunyu, Wakiso District

CAPAIDS Uganda
Local Leadership Labs
Kakunyu, Wakiso District

In today’s Local Leadership Labs session, the community of Kakunyu, Wakiso District came together with one clear purpose: to take ownership of how they manage, protect, and expand their water sources. The conversations were practical, grounded in the realities of daily life, and a powerful reminder of how much communities can achieve when they lead the planning themselves.

2,000
UGX/month
proposed household contribution
3+
New borehole sites
to be identified
1
Community committee
formed to oversee boreholes

💧 Taking Responsibility for Shared Water Points

Community members spoke frankly about what it takes to keep their water points functioning well. They agreed on contributing modest monthly fees — around 2,000 UGX per household — to fund ongoing well maintenance. Beyond finances, they stressed the need to sensitize all households on proper water source care and to actively discourage harmful practices such as washing clothes directly at the wells.

“When communities lead the planning, water stops being just a resource — it becomes a shared responsibility, a shared pride.”

The emphasis was not just on maintenance, but on building a culture of collective responsibility — where every household understands that clean water access depends on every member of the community playing their part.

Community members mapping shared responsibilities around water point maintenance — Kakunyu, Wakiso

🔧 Borehole Development & Expansion Plans

Community leaders shared updates on ongoing borehole development efforts, explaining how new boreholes are being expanded from existing spring sites to deliver clean water more broadly across the community. Partners providing boreholes have requested land for installation, and the community responded constructively.

🌊 Key Agreements from Today’s Session

• A community committee formed to monitor and oversee boreholes, ensuring timely repairs and proper usage
• Plans to identify three additional borehole locations to reduce pressure on existing water points
• The parish chief committed to mapping suitable sites with community members and presenting recommendations to sub-county leadership
• Monthly community meetings to review progress on all water source activities
• The executive committee empowered to coordinate day-to-day actions between meetings
• All decisions to be formally communicated to the parish chief for follow-up and accountability

Leaders and partners aligning on borehole siting and oversight arrangements

🏘️ Organized, Proactive, and Community-Driven

The action areas that emerged from today’s discussion paint a picture of a community that is not waiting to be helped — but building the structures needed to help itself.

🪣

Maintenance Culture

Monthly fees collected to fund well upkeep; households sensitized on responsible water use habits.

📍

Site Identification

Parish chief and community to jointly map three new borehole sites for sub-county approval.

👥

Oversight Committee

Dedicated committee formed to monitor borehole use, coordinate repairs, and report to leadership.

📅

Monthly Reviews

Regular community meetings to track progress, surface issues, and keep accountability strong.

Closing the session — commitments made, next steps clear
🌍

Today’s discussions showed a community that is organized, proactive, and deeply committed to improving its access to clean and safe water — leading the work themselves, with partners walking alongside them. That is what locally led development looks like in practice.

#LocalLeadershipLabs
#Kakunyu
#WakisoDistrict
#CentralRegion
#CleanWater
#WASH
#CommunityLed
#LocalisationAgenda