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Although exploitation of surface water resources still accounts
for more than 50% of the population needs, ground water
resources are increasingly becoming important. However, its
full potential is yet to be established, and it is believed that
its development will go a long way in meeting the projected
increased demand in future.
Ground water potential in the country is mainly determined
by the geology and rainfall in a given area. Generally, areas
underlain by fine grain rocks and soils have low ground water
potential because of limited infiltration compared to those with
coarse grain rocks and sandy soils. Similarly, low rainfall areas
have low ground water because of low infiltration.
The geology of Uganda is not especially rich in ground water
because of lack of true aquifers. Ground water is often readily
available from fissures in the Gneissic Complex at about 100
m depth. The bulk of Uganda is under-lain by this Gneissic
Complex which is of pre- Cambrian age. In the limited area of
the country where ground water resources have been exploited,
there is evidence of gradual decrease in the level of ground
water which has been attributed to abstraction in access of
yield. There is need for surveying and mapping of ground water
resources potential in the country and assessing the sensitivity
of this resource to excessive abstraction.
The water problem in Kamuli District, Eastern Uganda makes harnessing
of ground water the best option: children collect water from a community
ground water pump (borehole).
Credit.........
Children access water from a protected spring in
Bugiri District (2005)
Ground water
Simondwa 2006
18
Communities in Northern Uganda access
unsafe surface water for domestic use (2005)