Project Status



Project Type:  Dug Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Uganda WaSH Program

Impact: 180 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Dec 2016

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 03/07/2024

Project Features


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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).

Welcome to the Community

This hand-dug well will be installed in Kitanyata-Kyawako, Uganda. At this stage of the project, GPS coordinates and number served are estimates.

Kitanyata-Kyawako Village is located 26 kilometers northeast of Masindi Town, along Pakanyi Nyakarongo Road. This village can also be reached through Masindi Kigumba Road at a junction located in Kyatiri Town Board which is located 17km from Masindi. Despite easy access to water in general, the village lacks access to clean water. Its current water source is a muddy spring carpeted with algae. Common ailments reported among residents include diarrhea and malaria among numerous other waterborne diseases. All of these drain health, time, and finances for community members.

The village chief wrote a letter to request a well to help his people access clean water from a protected source. In his letter, he informed us that the residents of his village are in desperate need of clean and safe water, and that they are willing to contribute all local materials and labor to excavate the well. He further pledged to host the technician at his own home for the duration of the technician’s stay in the village.

Water Situation

Locals bring their yellow jerrycans to the stagnant water and dunk to fill them. Once water is delivered back home, it is separated into other containers by use. Drinking water is stored in covered clay pots, and water for domestic purposes is left in jerrycans.

After drinking this water, people report of complications like typhoid and diarrhea. Annet Tabu is a mother who lives here and shared a bit about the conditions. She said, "Kitanyata Health Center gets a lot of patients during the rainy season due to taking unsafe water from here. People suffer from cholera, diarrhea, and many other things." These rainy seasons are especially dangerous because of all the waste that washes into their water source.

Sanitation Situation

No more than half of households have pit latrines, but most of them don't have doors for privacy! Because of these poor conditions, most people opt for the privacy of trees and bushes.

Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training

The main objectives of this program are to get locals to always have and use proper latrines, and to adopt proper hygiene practices. Open defecation, storing water in dirty containers, and no hand-washing are all possible contaminates of water supply at the household level. Providing clean water doesn't go far when the water doesn't even stay clean.

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

The training facilitator will implement the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, which encourages local leaders to rise up and push the rest of their community to realize current practices at the individual household - particularly open defecation - are not only unhealthy, but affect the entire village. Community members will realize the negative consequences of their current water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors, and will be inspired to take action.

Plans: Hand-Dug Well

To prepare for this project, each family must have a latrine. They must dig a pit and build a superstructure. After hygiene and sanitation training, new practices must be adopted. Six to eight local men must volunteer to help excavate the hole for the new well, and the materials needed for construction must be delivered to the site.

If no technical issues, this project will progress at a fast pace, taking only four to six weeks. The well will be lined with bricks and sealing clay. Once the well pad has cured, a Consallen pump will be installed by our mechanics. And once our community engagement team verifies that each family has their own latrine, the pump handle will be attached and the community can begin accessing clean, safe water!

Project Updates


December, 2017: A Year Later: Kitanyata-Kyawako Community

A year ago, generous donors helped install a well with Kitanyata-Kyawako 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, Simon Mugume and Geoffrey Kusemererwa, 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: Kitanyata-Kyawako Community

December, 2017

But now, we can access the water point at any time of the day since it is near our homes.
The Village Health Team (VHT) confirmed to me that the levels of diarrhea disease decreased drastically after the water point was commissioned.

Keeping The Water Promise

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

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Kitanyata-Kyawako 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 Kitanyata-Kyawako 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, Simon Mugume and Geoffrey Kusemererwa, with you.


With a catchment population of 30 households, this area was certified Open Defecation Free (ODF) with 100% latrine coverage on October 10, 2016. We walked beside this community as they conducted their own appraisal and analysis of open defecation and took action. Natural leaders were born as they took up the gauntlet in encouraging their neighbors to build latrines.

Officer Simon speaking with Benard about community life since the project last year.

We met Mr. Benard Murungi at the water point to talk about other changes he's witnessed over the past year. "Before this water point, there were two cases reported of snake bites as the people were drawing water from the open water source. The parents would prevent their children from going to the water point alone in fear of being attacked by the reptiles. But now, we can access the water point at any time of the day since it is near our homes.
The Village Health Team (VHT) confirmed to me that the levels of diarrhea disease decreased drastically after the water point was commissioned."

The children who came to fetch clean water from the well.

Children gathered round as we conducted our interview. 13-year-old Nicholas said that the water doesn't smell like what he used to drink. He said, "the water is safe to drink even if it isn't boiled, and you won't get any stomach problems." Sharon also came by to fetch water for her family. She said she "doesn't have to walk long distances, since this water point is nearer." She said she used to walk 30 minutes to the old source, but now it only takes 10 minutes.


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 Kitanyata-Kyawako 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 Kitanyata-Kyawako 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.