Project Status



Project Type:  Dug Well and Hand Pump

Regional Program: Western Uganda WaSH Program

Impact: 300 Served

Project Phase:  In Service - Jan 2017

Functionality Status:  Functional

Last Checkup: 03/11/2024

Project Features


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Community Profile

Bunyama is located in Kyankende Parish, Kiryandongo sub-County of Kiryandongo District.

Bunyama Community is full of peasant farmers who wake up as early as 6AM to work on their farms. After work, women and children return home and men venture to the local trading center to drink with friends. When there are crops to sell, women travel to the market to trade and earn money.

We interviewed Kabuubi Deogratious, a 51-year-old father to 14 children. He moved to this village 25 years ago because of constant land wars in his ancestral village of Mirya of Masindi District. He informed us that his children and wife work in his maize gardens in order to sell the crops at the end of every season. During the interview, he lamented about the broken water source which was constructed by the local government, sharing that it is the main source of water for him and numerous neighbors. "This water is visibly turbid and contaminated," he observed.

Water Situation

We have already partnered with this village to construct a water source at one side, and this water source was named "Bunyama B". This came at a time when the village already had access to a protected water source constructed by the local government. That older water source constructed by the local government broke down many months before, having sunk into soft soils (as shown in the pictures below) forcing the community to collect spillover water from the pump base's cracks, which is very dangerous to their health. Over time, the entire water column became contaminated by surface runoff water, making it moot to only repair the pump.

People suffer from typhoid and diarrhea after drinking this water, especially the children.

Plans: Hygiene and Sanitation Training

The main objectives are the use of latrines and observing proper hygiene practices, since 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 contaminants of a household water supply. Each participating village must achieve Open Defecation Free status (defined by one latrine per household), prior to the pump installation for a shallow hand-dug well.

The CDO will continue to encourage each household to build an ideal homestead that includes: a latrine, hand-washing facility, a separate structure for animals, rubbish pit and drying rack for dishes.

We also implement the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach with each of our village partners. This aims 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 the practice of 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.

Plans: Hand-Dug Well

Oyenboth Scovia is the current community development officer (CDO) for Kiryandongo sub-county who recently informed Mwereza Julius, the village chairman, that we plan to partner with Bunyama again. We plan to construct a shallow hand-dug well to replace the old one that fell into disrepair. This community has pledged to excavate the hole and provide local construction materials like sand, aggregates, hardcore and bricks. They will also provide food and accommodation for the technician we shall send to work with them during this partnership.

There will be 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 an improved latrine. Many households do not use a latrine, but use the bush. Due to the practice of open defecation, feces are spread all over the village and thus contaminate open water sources. We want to ensure that the community is able to live a healthy life that is free of preventable waterborne diseases.

Actual well construction will take four to six weeks if there are no challenges. The well will be lined with bricks and sealing clay, and finished with a Consallen pump.

Thank You for partnering with us to get clean water to the people living in Bunyama!

Project Updates


December, 2017: A Year Later: Bunyama B II Community

A year ago, generous donors helped install a well with Bunyama B II 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, Scovia O. 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: Bunyama B II Community

December, 2017

With a new well, there are now 55 households drawn to Bunyama Village for its safe, clean water.

Keeping The Water Promise

There's an incredible community of monthly donors who have come alongside you in supporting clean water in Bunyama B II Community.

This giving community supports ongoing sustainability programs that help Bunyama B II 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 Bunyama B II 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, Scovia O. and Geoffrey Kusemererwa with you.


Bunyama Village became Open Defecation Free (ODF) with 100% latrine coverage on October 19, 2016. We walked beside this community as they conducted their own appraisal and analysis of open defecation and took action. The community now has a great self-awareness of hygiene and sanitation, with many leaders who promote the adherence of good, healthy practices. Through the help of the water and sanitation committee, community members have been empowered to monitor sanitation in their vicinity and enforce bylaws.

Before this project was implemented, there were 38 households depending on dirty water coming from a broken source. With a new well, there are now 55 households drawn to Bunyama Village for its safe, clean water.

We met Andrew Okidele, who is the caretaker of this hand-dug well. He reports that "there are over 55 households using this water point, with each household paying 2,000 shillings a month as a water user fee. The committee currently has over 150,000 shillings saved. However, about 12 households still don't pay this money - but still access the water point because the committee has agreed that they should go ahead and use the clean water because good health is important. The water is good for drinking with no bad smell." He said that the village health team is still active, and "carries out surprise checks on the quality and number of latrines in the community."

Our staff talking with Mr. Okidele and community members about restricting access to the well.

When visiting, we heard complaints that the well is sometimes locked for a long time. Though it should be locked from 7pm to 7am every evening, people said it could be locked for two or three days at a time. When digging in with Mr. Okidele, we found out that this is true; the water and sanitation committee has asked the pump stay locked until households pay their monthly fees. However, we strongly encouraged that the committee not restrict access to the entire community. Instead, Mr. Okidele could sit at the well with a list of people who have adhered to their monthly payments, allowing them to fetch their water.

Daphine and Rose fetching clean water at the well.

While we were talking about this, 16-year-old Daphine Owechi came to fetch water. She said that not only are there less waterborne diseases, but she's glad to be away from the open water source. There were a lot of mosquitoes there, and she says "we were being bitten by mosquitoes which would cause malaria. Malaria would prevent us from going to school, and a lot of money would be spent on treatment." With no stagnant water at this well, Daphine no longer worries about malaria when she's fetching water.


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 Bunyama B II 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 Bunyama B II 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.


Contributors

Ravenhurst Primary School
Prospect Presbyterian Church, Inc.
Girl Scout Troop 15319
Norwell High School
Iron Tribe Fitness - Augusta Rd Greenville, SC
Faith Chapel
Redlands College Year 7
Cleaner Envy LLC.
Bloomfield Hills Middle School
Emma's Homecoming Campaign for Water
Shira's Campaign for Water
The Svoboda Family's Campaign for Water

And 4 other fundraising page(s)
145 individual donor(s)