When Texans and Ugandans on Mission first set foot in the Omoro District in July 2021, they didn’t come with grand speeches or big promises. They came with shovels, pipes and a lot of hope. Their goal was simple: drill new wells and fix broken ones so that families could finally stop drinking dirty water.
Over the years, T&UM staff did so much more than drill wells. They sat under trees reading the Bible with villagers. They laughed and prayed with them and watched communities change from the inside out. Local church leaders stepped up, hungry to learn and eager to serve. Staff members empowered and equipped them in the Discipleship Making Movement. T&UM didn’t just give villagers training; they gave their time, ears and hearts.
Now, after five years of dedication to well-drilling and spreading the Gospel, the ministry was honored with a certificate of recognition at a recent Omoro District council session.
The council honored T&UM alongside a few other organizations focused primarily on children’s welfare and education, but T&UM’s contribution was especially significant in the “WASH” service sector — water, sanitation and hygiene. Although other groups also delivered water and sanitation services, T&UM’s impact was broader and more sustained.
“Texans and Ugandans on Mission has played a pivotal role in helping the district navigate challenges we simply could not overcome with our limited resources,” one council member said. “Their support in water services has been tremendous and exceptional. They have made an outstanding contribution to the health, hygiene and sanitation of the people of Omoro District.”
Since 2021, T&UM has constructed 245 new water wells and rehabilitated 118 more, providing over 108,405 people with clean, safe water. But numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Behind those numbers are the faces of those growing God’s kingdom. Five hundred church leaders in the area are now equipped to shepherd their flocks with confidence. From water points, 51 new churches sprang organically, since the wells are where people gather not just to fetch water, but to find hope. And still, T&UM is working hand in hand with water user committees, teaching them how to collect water fees and maintain their sources so the water keeps flowing for years to come.
During the council session, T&UM’s East African Director of Water Impact Samuel Ojok spoke about what Omoro looked like before the ministry came in.
“When we first arrived, Omoro District had only 57% water coverage,” Ojok said. “Today, that figure stands at 95%. That is a transformation we are incredibly proud of.”
The change is evident in the way Omoro residents now go about their daily lives — in more ways than one. Children no longer miss school because of waterborne sickness. Mothers, who once walked miles under the scorching sun, now have extra hours to cook, farm and simply hold their babies. Villages have adopted better hygiene practices because they finally have clean water to wash with. The burden of preventable diseases has slowly lifted, inspiring relief, dignity and a new kind of strength that can be seen in their faces.
As T&UM moves forward to work in the Amuru District in Northern Uganda, Ojok said two staff members will stay behind in Omoro, working with district leadership to ensure every water point continues to serve residents sustainably.
“We will officially hand over all our completed projects in Omoro District in a befitting ceremony,” Ojok said. “But before that day comes, we are busy retooling the water user committees and equipping hand pump mechanics with the tools they need. Our goal is simple: these wells must keep flowing long after we leave.”
Our work is life-giving
To learn more about what our Water Impact ministry has accomplished in Uganda, explore our other stories of sharing hope and resilience through clean water, human connection and God’s message of love.