Bread and Water for Africa® first began working with Bega kwa Bega (BkB – Shoulder to Shoulder in Kiswahili) in Uganda in 2020 to construct concrete barriers around fresh water spring sites, which are necessary to prevent animal and human contamination to protect the health of the residents of the surrounding villages who relied on them for all their water usage.
“The available community water sources are not safe, not clean and not enough for the villages,” BkB country director David Ssagala told us at the time. “Water is the most pressing need in these communities and is their first request.”
Since then, Bread and Water for Africa® has protected 78 springs in the country, benefiting tens of thousands of rural Ugandans in a country where more than 80 percent of the population do not have access to safe water.
The great benefit these wells have brought to villages like Kibwa village, Kazo Parish, Nansana Division, Wakiso district in Central Uganda has been enormous.
Water scarcity affects one in three people in sub-Saharan Africa… typically either through terrible droughts that cause illness and death from dehydration or through unclean water that causes disease and often death due to vomiting and diarrhea.
Among the springs that were protected recently is one located in Bugongwe Village. It has 120 households with about 600 people. Also located in the village is a junior high school with 80 learners, a church and a mosque.
Before construction, it was an open water source with very dirty water that could not be used for domestic use.
Community members only went to the water source to wash clothes, as cows drank from the same water source.
People used to walk a long distance to get water from the alternative water source, trekking a three-hour journey.
Community members actively participated during the construction of the well.
This involved clearing the water path, carrying materials from the collection point to the construction site, and constructing the water bank, well box and stairs.
Since the route to the well was narrow, materials were delivered to a given area and then community members carried them to the site.
An education session was conducted about proper use of the well and its maintenance, and water, sanitation and hygiene tips.
Members elected a water committee, including children’s representatives. Beneficiaries received food-grade jerrycans to ensure a safe water chain.
The beneficiaries were very happy, they danced, sang and jumped with joy for having free access to a clean, safe and reliable water source in addition to the new jerrycans distributed to store the clean and safe water.
They could not believe that they had a protected well in their area and added that they were now free from waterborne illnesses.
Following the completion of the project in Bugongwe Village, David reported that community members were delighted to see the BkB team returning for a follow-up on the progress of the protected spring.
Due to the village’s remoteness, many doubted our commitment to making this dream come to life for them.
“Life has become easier,” he noted.
Bugongwe Village water committee chairman Henry Kalulu says the community members are grateful because now they have free access to clean and safe water.
“Children are happy that they can get water very fast with no scuffle and return home in time, unlike before when they used to fight to get contaminated water.
The Local Council I Chairman also appreciated the work done, commenting previously many people did not have jerrycans, especially older people, but thanks to BkB and Bread and Water for Africa®, they now have clean water storage containers.
David also wanted the supporters of Bread and Water for Africa® to know that now that the well is constructed, the number of households using it has increased from 120 to 220, totaling more than 1,000 individuals, and the number of schools using the well has increased from one to three, with now 480 students altogether.
