An American couple that has been visiting Uganda for the last 16 years has constructed at least 78 boreholes at return sites in rural parts of Gulu district worth Shs1.7 billion.
Since 2011, Mr David Mann and his wife Dana Mann from the US State of Texas through their Charity organization, Villages of Hope have been able to help the resettling communities to access safe clean drinking water.
During an interview on Wednesday while at Olee, Paicho Sub County in Gulu district where they are helping the community build a school, Mann said their interest in visiting Uganda started 20 years ago when a friend invited him.
“Sixteen years ago, we came and I said I don’t know if we can just help may be to build another school, build an orphanage but he insisted that no you need to come and it will change your life, and we came, it indeed changed our lives,“ says Mann.
He adds that all over a sudden, Uganda and its people got into their hearts.
“In 2003, we began to get a real stirring in our spirits for the Acholi people. The people who have been captive in the IDPs camps. My heart was aching and Dana’s heart too was aching. We went back home and told the people our story,” Mann explains.
In 2005, David and Danna boarded a plane from Texas and visited one of the IDPs camps.
“We started with one borehole, then three and now we have 78. There is no government money involved here. We are doing this for the love of the people,” Mann explained.
Through his organization, the American couple says they will continue to extend a helping hand to the end.
A deep well borehole costs between Shs21 to Shs22 million to drill.
Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the District LCV chairman says for the last five years, the couple has made an enormous contribution by giving clean water to over 23,000 families at return sites.
According to Mapenduzi, “Each of the boreholes constructed with support from Mann and his wife serves 300 households with clean.”
“This clean water will go a long way in preventing water borne diseases such as typhoid, bilharzia and other related diseases,” He said.
