Rehabilitation Project
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Kigumba Kyamugwera is located 10km from Masindi town centre, 4km off Masindi-Kigumba road at Kisanja trading center where the road leading to Murchison-falls national park begin. This village located in Labongo Parish, Pakanyi sub-county in Masindi district hosts an old and non operational aerodrome which the Uganda government is planning to revamp to serve the oil industry under development the region. This 2km long aerodrome strips the village into two and has affected the community in terms of access to resources and other critical services as trespassing though the runway is illegal. A case in point is a shallow well at one end of the village is not accessible to many across the runway and whoever is found trespassing is prosecuted. Residents of this village practice agriculture though at a small scale with maize and cassava as the major crops grown. Sugarcane is a new industrial crop introduced in this village by Kinyara Sugar Limited located 20km far west of the village.
In this village, clean water is a scarce resource collected many kilometers from the other side of the aerodrome which makes fetching it a hectic job. Due to the distance factor, residents of this village resort to collecting water from the nearby open ponds around their homesteads which is said to be a leading source of water borne related diseases which are rampant in the village. Mr. Yosam Tigwenderwa 61yrs old and father to 7children who migrated to this village 30years ago when he was alerted about existence of free land says that he has lived in this village collecting water from open sources which sometimes becomes smelly especially during rainy season. Arising from one of the radio talk shows which The Water Trust conducted on one of the local Fm radio stations, Mr. Erifaz Kahigwa the village chairman wrote an application letter to TWT for a protected water source. In his letter to TWT, the community committed its self to contribute all the locally available materials like sand, bricks, and hardcore on top of providing accommodation to a technician we shall send to work with them in the process of constructing the water source.
The Water Trust (TWT) will have an intensive program to provide access to clean water and sanitation in this village. The community will participate in excavating and constructing the water source. In the meantime the aim is that all households own improved latrines. Many households do not use a latrine but use the bush. Due to the practice of open defecation, faeces are spread all over the village and contaminate open water sources. Our aim is to ensure that the community is able to live a healthy life, free of preventable waterborne diseases. We strive to work in partnership with the community to access safe clean water and improved sanitation.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
April 8, 2015
Today we delivered Christopher the technician and his helper to the community where they are going to live for a few weeks while we under take this project. We also sited a suitable location to construct the well and work is expected to begin tomorrow.
April 17, 2015
Excavation work is going on well, Christopher and his helper have excavated up to 14 ft deep with no water struck yet. Community participation is good and we hope that water will be struck soon.
April 24, 2015
Excavation work is progressing through the 37th foot and with a water column of 12feet and all materials were delivered to site. Both the slab and pump bass have been casted and presently the Christopher is lining up the well.
May 1, 2015
All masonry work has been concluded at this site. We have covered it to cure as we plan for installation.
HYGIENE AND SANITATION COMPONENT
The Community Development Officer (CDO) encourages each household to follow the main objectives of TWT’s Sanitation and Hygiene Program, which are the use of latrines and observing proper hygiene practices as these goals are inherently connected to the provision of clean water. Open defecation, water storage in unclean containers and the absence of hand washing at critical times are all possible contaminates to the water supply at the household level. TWT works toward sustainable, interdisciplinary WASH development.
The Water Trust’s social program includes the assignment of one to build development. TWT leverages this relationship, by requiring each participating village to achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by one latrine per household), prior to the pump installation for a shallow hand dug well. An ideal homestead includes: a latrine with a hand-washing facility, a rubbish pit, separate structure for animals and a drying rack for dishes.
Community Led Total Sanitation
The Water Trust implements the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach with each of our village partners. TWT facilitates a CLTS session in which we aim 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 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.
