Project Status



Project Type:  Dug Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Uganda WaSH Program

Impact: 500 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jan 2017

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 09/25/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

Nyakagando Community is located in Kikuube Parish, Kigumba sub-County of Kiryandongo, Uganda. GPS coordinates are estimates during the early stages of this project. We also estimate there to be hundreds living in this area.

This hilly village with gentle slopes is largely a farming area with many small garden plots. Cassava, beans, maize and soybeans are the major crops grown. In some parts of the village, families rear cattle which supply fresh milk to other village members. The food grown in Nyakagando is enough to feed both their own families and those of other villages. This village, however, is lacking clean and safe water. Residents fetch water from open sources which are also shared by birds and domestic animals.

Mr. Simon Majara is a 73-year-old man who was born in this village. He believes that living in this village will get better when the problem of water is resolved. He attributed the rampant diarrhea and typhoid in his village to taking water from open sources. The one old borehole drilled by the local government has broken and nobody is able to fix it. There is also a hand-dug well that is both far away and always crowded.

Water Situation

Since the borehole drilled by the government broke down, over one hundred families rely on one hand-dug well. This well is no less than one kilometer away, and also attracts users from other villages. Thus, those living far away in Nyakagando often choose to collect their water from closer, open areas. Children will be sent to fetch water and return with jerrycans full of swamp water. Because of such a water shortage in Nyakagando, waterborne diseases are a part of life. These especially affect small children, giving them painful stomachaches, diarrhea, and worms.

Sanitation Situation

A little over half of households have their own pit latrine, leaving a good portion of people without their own place to use the bathroom. Those without latrines either share with neighbors or find privacy in the bushes. There aren't any hand-washing stations to clean up after using the bathroom, either.

Thankfully, work to improve this situation has already begun. Families are learning from each other, find out what kind of facilities will help them live healthier lives. Some women have already had their husbands build dish racks for outside the kitchen, which can be seen under the "See Photos & Video" tab.

Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training

The main objectives are the use of latrines and observing proper hygiene practices, since these goals are inherently connected to the provision of clean water. Open defecation, water storage in unclean containers and the absence of hand-washing are all possible contaminants of a household water supply. Each participating village must achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by one latrine per household), prior to the pump installation for a shallow hand-dug well.

This social program includes the assignment of one Community Development Officer (CDO) to each village. The CDO encourages each household to build an ideal homestead that includes: a latrine, hand-washing facility, a separate structure for animals, rubbish pit and drying rack for dishes.

We also implement the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach with each of our village partners. This aims to improve the sanitation and hygiene practices and behaviors of a village. During these sessions, village leaders naturally emerge and push the community to realize that current practices of individual households – particularly the practice of open defecation– are not only unhealthy, but affect the entire village. CLTS facilitates a process in which community members realize the negative consequences of their current water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors and are inspired to take action. Group interactions are frequent motivators for individual households to: build latrines, use the latrines and demand that other households do the same.

Plans: Hand-Dug Well

The community will participate in excavating and constructing the water source. In the meantime the aim is that all households own an improved latrine. When there is open defecation, feces spread all over the village, which leads to waterborne diseases and contamination of groundwater and surface water. Our aim is that the community is able to live a healthy life free of preventable diseases. We endeavor that at the end of our presence in the community, people will have both access to sustainable, clean water and access to sanitation. We have now organized families to form digging groups for latrine construction, and empowered them with tools to use.

Actual well construction will take four to six weeks if there are no challenges. The well will be lined with bricks and sealing clay, and finished with a Consallen pump.

Thank You for partnering with us to get clean water to the people living in Nyakagando Community!

Project Updates


December, 2017: A Year Later: Nyakagando Community

A year ago, generous donors helped install a well with Nyakagando Community in Uganda. Because of these gifts and contributions from our monthly donors, partners can visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partners, Geoffrey Kusemererwa and Sovia O. with you.




Project Photos


Project Type

Hand-dug wells have been an important source of water throughout human history! Now, we have so many different types of water sources, but hand-dug wells still have their place. Hand dug wells are not as deep as borehole wells, and work best in areas where there is a ready supply of water just under the surface of the ground, such as next to a mature sand dam. Our artisans dig down through the layers of the ground and then line the hole with bricks, stone, or concrete, which prevent contamination and collapse. Then, back up at surface level, we install a well platform and a hand pump so people can draw up the water easily.


A Year Later: Nyakagando Community

December, 2017

These days we drink clean water with no germs, unlike previously when they would drink water from the open source which was smelly with a bad taste. The well is near my home so I can easily access it.

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Nyakagando Community.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Nyakagando Community maintain access to safe, reliable water. Together, they keep The Water Promise.

We’re confident you'll love joining this world-changing group committed to sustainability!

A year ago, generous donors helped install a well with Nyakagando Community in Uganda. Because of these gifts and contributions from our monthly donors, partners can visit project sites throughout the year, strengthening relationships with communities and evaluating the actual water project. These consistent visits allow us to learn vital lessons and hear amazing stories – we’re excited to share this one from our partners, Geoffrey Kusemererwa and Sovia O. with you.


Nyakagando I Village in Kiryandongo District, became Open Defecation Free (ODF) with 100% latrine coverage on November 12, 2016.

Nyakagando Village has a Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) to help the community save money, receive small loans, and have money available for well repair. With a total of 31 households, the members meet every Wednesday to carry out their savings discussions. Currently, the group members have a total savings of 1,610,200 shillings. This model has helped ensure that the water point remains in very good condition.

We met with Mr. Francis Magezi at the well to talk about the changes in his community over the past year. "Before this well, we would fetch water from an open water source. We would ride bicycles for close to three kilometers in search of clean and safe water for drinking, which was tiresome. Diseases like diarrhea and typhoid are not common anymore..." He continued to say that the only challenge has been children who abuse the rules and come to play at the well. "Most times, the fence is destroyed by the stubborn children that come and start swinging on the poles. The poles then break within a very short period of time, which is costly because we have to keep buying nails to help replace the broken fence."

Mercy Immaculate and her little brother

9-year-old Mercy Immaculate came to fetch water while we were there. She said, "These days we drink clean water with no germs, unlike previously when they would drink water from the open source which was smelly with a bad taste. The well is near my home so I can easily access it."

This community is working so hard to care for their water point, and they're doing a wonderful job!


The Water Project and our partners are committed to consistent monitoring of each water source. Our monitoring and evaluation program, made possible by monthly donors, allows us to visit communities up to 4 times a year. Read more about our program and how you can help.


Navigating through intense dry spells, performing preventative maintenance, conducting quality repairs when needed and continuing to assist community leaders to manage water points are all normal parts of keeping projects sustainable. The Water Promise community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Nyakagando Community maintain access to safe, reliable water.

We’d love for you to join this world-changing group committed to sustainability.

The most impactful way to continue your support of Nyakagando Community – and hundreds of other places just like this – is by joining our community of monthly givers.

Your monthly giving will help provide clean water, every month... keeping The Water Promise.


Contributors

St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School
United Methodist Church Children's Ministry
TYC
C-FER Technologies
In Honor of Sarib Usman Mohiuddin
E.E.J.Z
Delta Sigma Tau Sorority INC.
Yonsei Speech and Communication Class
WUIS Grade 3's Campaign for Water
H2O Tutoring (2)
Emily's Campaign for Water
Brian's Campaign for Water
Rafferty's Birthday Campaign for Water
Change for change; The B.H.A.G. Water Project
Academy of Science's Campaign for Water
Rachel Gomez's Fundraising Page
Abby's Campaign for Water
GSLC Water Campaign
SCST's Campaign for Water
The Water Walk
Friends of Israel's Campaign for Water

And 2 other fundraising page(s)
120 individual donor(s)