The report below from our partner in the field gives some great information on the construction of a new hand-dug well in the Mpumwe II community in Uganda:
Mpumwe II is located in Kigumba sub-county, Kiryandongo District. The village is located near the road and has a small trading centre, however most homes are hidden in the gardens near the centre. The village also has a primary school.
“Our community needs clean water. Currently we fetch water from an open source. Some people that have a bicycle go to the borehole. However, for most of us this is too far,” says a community member. The open source is dirty and contaminated. Animals easily access the water, children bath, women wash their clothes and others fetch water with jerry cans for drinking.
“This water will be used by the community and by the school. It will make a difference for us. We will avoid becoming ill and our children will be safe from diarrhea,” says the village chairman. “We are looking forward to start working on the construction of the water source. Soon our village will be a good place to live for our future generations!”
In Mpumwe II, The Water Trust will have 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 live, 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.
[GPS coordinates for this project are approximate.]
Construction Progress:
January 8, 2013
Today we brought the technician, Benjamin, to the village. We walked through the area to spot sites where we can find water. We found a suitable area where we can start excavating. For the coming weeks Benjamin will stay with the community. The community will provide accommodation and food for him.