Project Status



Project Type:  Dug Well and Hand Pump

Program: Wells for Masindi / Jinga Uganda

Impact: 170 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Aug 2013

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 12/10/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

The report below from our partner in the field gives some great information on the construction of a new hand-dug well in the Kyatiri – Kyambogo community in Uganda:

Kyatiri – Kyambogo village is located in Kyatiri parish, Pakanyi sub-county. This village is highly multi-ethnic with more than ten tribes who migrated from different parts of the country to this village due to its fertility of soils and favorable climate.  It lies on the road to Kiryandongo District and it is known to be a grain business hub for the district. Most people here are commercial grain farmers and the major crop grown is maize.

The village has a big need for clean water. The local council chairman’s application letter for a shallow well reads in part; “My village has no single protected  water source. At the moment we either draw water from the neighboring village which is hectic or fetch from open water sources around our village which is unhealthy”.

In Kyatiri- Kyambogo, 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:

June 17, 2 013

Today we brought Richard the technician 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 after a very long trek. For the coming weeks Richard will stay with the community and this community will provide him with accommodation and food.

June 27, 2013

Excavation is going on well and the community is fully supporting our technicians. At the moment they are 13ft deep and they have not yet hit water. Our Community Development Officer, Godfrey conducts regular visits to the households to monitor  progress on latrine construction and to advice households on  how to improve their homesteads as Richard  takes the community through shallow well excavation processes.

July1 , 2013

At 16ft deep, we hit water and excavation is still going on with a lot of enthusiasm.The community is working hard to make the water source a success. Currently this site is 20ft deep.

July 4, 2013

At 24ft, excavation has ended and construction will commence immediately. This source has a water column of 8ft and a good recharge rate.

July 9, 2013

Construction of this source began a few days and its moving on well. Today Chrissie from The Water Project (USA) and Sarah The Water Trust Executive Director visited this site and were impress about this progress. In a few days to come, this village will have access to clean and safe water.

July 15, 2013

Construction of this source is complete and we have left it to set before we can install the pump head.

August 15, 2103

Today this water source was installed success fully and water is flowing. The community is happy and grateful to The Water Project and The Water Trust who identified them and opted to put such an important factor of life in their village. View the video of this progress below.

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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.