Hope Renewed with a Repaired Well

by Shafic Mutegule, Program Coordinator

It was obvious the well had not been in operation for quite some time. But where were the people getting their water if the main water source in Kalungami B wasn’t working? Was this the UVP constructed well from long ago?

As though he heard my thoughts, I hear a voice behind me say, “Are you among the UVP team that constructed this well with our community?” I turned around to find Menya Patrick, one of the village elders in Kalungami B who cared for the well and part of the team who helped to construct it in 2015. I replied, “Yes.” He explained to me how the well was in need of repairs and that the community had liaised with different technicians to fix it, but the cost of repairs was a serious barrier. Patrick began telling me of the history of the well and how it served so many people in his densely populated village. With such high usage, of course the well had broken during the last five years, but the community was always able to collect funds to repair it. This time was different; the cost was nearly 1 million shillings, more than the annual income of three families combined. When the technician assessed the well and noted the cost, he knew the community would not be able to repair it on their own, so he reached out to UVP. 

As I stood there speaking with Patrick, I saw several women and children pass by with empty jerry cans on their heads or tied to the back of bicycles. “Where are they getting their water since the well isn’t functioning?” I asked. He said, “There’s a well in the neighboring village, about an hour-long walk from here. But since there are many people that use it, the wait can be very long to fill your jerry cans. Some people just go to the exposed pond a few minutes from here to fetch water.” He looked at me with knowing eyes: open water sources like that pond were filled with bacteria that caused serious illnesses. But what other option did the community have? There was no question, he and I knew we needed to get this well repaired quickly.

In just a matter of days, we had the District Water Office technician in Kalungami working to repair the well. When people passed by, they excitedly asked when the well would be functioning again and chat among themselves in hushed and hopeful tones about the work in progress.

Finally, the day came when water flowed in the well again. The cheers were so loud! Patrick stood by, smiling at the small group witnessing the well return to life and I could tell that this meant so much to him. He walked up to me later and said, “Thank you for repairing our well. We now have safe water!” He laughed and returned to the jovial celebration at the renewed water source.

In partnership with the International Foundation, UVP has repaired five wells in rural villages in 2020 with plans to construct two new wells over the next few months. Partners like you and the International Foundation make a huge difference in communities like Kalungami B - THANK YOU!

Intern Inspiration Lives On

by Shafic Mutegule, Program Coordinator

Seated under the nearby mango tree, I see the children touching the UVP motorcycle, in awe of the shiny blue metal vehicle. Next to me is Robert, father to the children ogling the motorcycle, looking at his children in amusement. I see a pile of bricks and some partially built walls in his compound and ask Robert, “what’s going on there?” as I point to the construction zone. “That,” he says, “is the beginning of our own pit latrine,” proudly smiling.

Robert didn’t think that sharing a latrine with his neighbors was a big deal until he met the 2019 interns who stayed in his village of Bulugodha. While it was great that the family was using a pit latrine, they said, did they really use it all the time? What happened if they went to use it but it was occupied? Did the children wait or just go to the field? These questions made Robert question how his family used the communal latrine.

Over the course of the interns’ stay and then in months after that, Robert and his wife learned more and more about the benefits of using a latrine and the safe water chain from UVP activities. As their knowledge grew, so did their desire to construct their own pit latrine.

Now, more than a year since the interns departed from Bulugodha, Robert and his wife are beginning construction on their own pit latrine. Robert acknowledges that it is a big investment for his family, which is why it took him more than a year to start the project, but he recognizes his family’s health as a priority. As we finish our conversation together, Robert says, “I feel so happy to be visited by the UVP team today – thanks for the good work!”

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