Kabale District

For over 20 years, the Kigezi Diocese Water and Sanitation Programme has been working to improve access to safe water and sanitation in SW Uganda – a beautiful and mountainous part of the country. They have twice received the award for the Best Performing NGO in Water and Sanitation in Uganda.

1/3 of the population have inadequate access to safe water and may have to walk over an hour to get unsafe water from a stream or pond. Typically it is the women and girls who fetch water. The time taken to collect fetch means less time can be spent on more productive activities such as agriculture or going to school. The long journeys and heavy loads cause physical problems, and girls often face the risk of physical or sexual attack.

Kigezi Water and Sanitation Programme aims to change this through providing facilities which bring safe water closer to people’s homes. Kigezi Diocese brings the technical expertise, but the local community contribute locally-available resources, provide labour and commit to maintaining the facilities once constructed. Several approaches are used: a) constructing gravity flow schemes – many km-long system of pipes and taps which take water from natural springs at the top of a hill to homes and school in the valleys

b) Protected springs, which stop the clean spring water being polluted by animals

c) Rainwater-harvesting tanks – built by trained groups of women in homes, for people who cannot afford to build their own – including people living with HIV - or for members of “clubs” who save a small amount each week

Kigezi Diocese uses its local churches to raise awareness of the importance of safe water and sanitation and to mobilise local resources. They are clear that providing water is part of the life-giving mission of the church, but also that it is Jesus who brings eternal life. The inscription on this water jar reads: “Jesus is good and he has given me good water” A water jar like this costs around £40 to build and can provide water for a household of 6 people. So, a gift of £14 per month will help 24 people a year to have better access to safe water – reducing disease, improving girls’ education, creating employment and improving agriculture.