Project Status



Project Type:  Dug Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Masindi / Jinga Uganda

Impact: 200 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Aug 2015

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 03/07/2024

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Community Profile

This project is a part of our shared program with The Water Trust. Our team is pleased to directly share the below report (edited for clarity, as needed).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Kabukye Trust forms part of Kabukye cell and it is located in Kigumba Town council, Kiryandongo District. Most people from this village are farmers who are presently preparing their gardens for the next planting season. The village has 30 households where everyone is known to each other and elders of this village converge every evening at the small trading center to drink local brew while the young ones play football.

While in this village, we met with Mr. Mataba Paul, a 38 year old resident who migrated to this village 15 years ago when he acquired land for agriculture. He says that land in this village is so fertile and that rains are evenly distributed throughout the year which results in high yields. He works in his garden with his wife and two children, cutting down on costs of production. He  intimated to us, however, how residents of this village walk long distances for water. Due to water scarcity, most people fetch water from open water sources within the community which are contaminated and the cause of many dangerous but preventable diseases. Mr. Okot Emmanuel, the village chairman, informed us that "This water source will change our community as our children will be healthier due to the clean water The Water Trust is looking forward to provide".

There will be an intensive program to provide access to clean water and sanitation.  The community will participate in excavating and constructing the water source. In the mean time, the aim is that all households have access to a latrine. Many households don't use a latrine but use the bush. Due to open defecation, feaces are spread over the village. This leads to (fatal) diseases and contamination of the groundwater. Our aim is that the community is able to live a healthy life, free of preventable diseases. Therefore we endeavor that at the end of our presence in the community, people have both access to sustainable clean water and access to sanitation.

HYGIENE AND SANITATION STRATEGY

The main objectives of the Sanitation and Hygiene Program are the use of latrines and proper hygiene, 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 are all possible contaminates of a household water source.  We leverage this relationship by requiring each village to achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by one latrine per household), prior to the pump installation for a shallow hand dug well.  Using the immediate gratification of clean water as an impetus, we work toward sustainable, interdisciplinary WASH development.

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

Community Led Total Sanitation

We implement the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) program with each of our village partners.  The team 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.

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

July 15, 2015

Technicians Bernard and Vincent have been delivered to the site and excavation started today.

July 25, 2015

Today we hit water 15 feet deep, and the community also delivered their pledge of all locally available materials like sand, bricks and aggregates.

August 03, 2015

Excavation is progressing through the 20th foot and the recharge rate is very high. The community is also supportive.

August 8, 2015

At 23 feet deep with a water column of 8feet, the well has been bricked up to the top and also chlorinated. We also covered it as we plan for its installation.

August 31, 2015

Following construction complete, the well was chlorinated. Construction is completed and the hand pump has been installed!

We're just getting started, check back soon!


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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.