Construction has begun on a drinking water supply network in Djugu territory, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, following the delivery of materials, Agence congolaise de presse (ACP) reported.

The project aims to supply drinking water to communities in Lonyo, in Djugu territory, as well as outlying neighborhoods of Bunia. Project coordinator Innocent Ngandru said the materials received, including pipes, valves and fittings, were purchased in Uganda through an external partnership, allowing the project to move from planning to construction.

The project uses a gravity-fed system, drawing on water sources at higher elevations to channel water to distribution areas without pumps. Ngandru said the technical choice should help reduce operating costs and improve access to water for low-income populations. The first phase will draw water from the Tsada spring, while an extension using the UDHA spring is planned.

According to Ngandru, the first phase is designed to deliver a flow rate of five liters per second, with the goal of serving about 17,000 people in the Jili and Mandro areas of Djugu. A future extension could raise capacity to 20 liters per second and reach up to seven outlying neighborhoods of Bunia, pending funding.

This construction phase follows preparatory work already carried out at the Tsada spring site. In October 2025, ACP reported that an initial water output of five liters per second had been achieved there, along with the installation of a collection chamber, a retaining wall and a protective zone around the spring. Those developments confirmed the site’s water supply potential.

Ngandru also raised concerns about insecurity in parts of Ituri. He noted that water infrastructure had already been destroyed in areas affected by violence, a situation he said could further erode donor confidence.

Boaz Kabeya