BUVAD Project Update

Board Members visit Uganda in September 2012

July 2012 marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership between Minga and the Butakoola Village Association for Development (BUVAD) in Kayunga County, Uganda. BUVAD recently initiated the Community Safe Water Supply Project (CSWSP) to build borehole wells in communities that do not currently have access to safe, clean water. Each well typically serves a community of eighty to ninety residents who would otherwise turn to unsafe groundwater sources for their cooking, cleaning and drinking water needs.

The first of three wells built with in partnership with BUVAD was completed in August 2012. The following month, Board Members Daniel Kselman and Bhuan Agrawal travelled to Kayunga County to visit the project in person. The purpose of the visit was to gain a better understanding of the communities in which BUVAD works and the challenges they face, with the ultimate goals of maximizing the project’s immediate impact and ensuring its sustainability in the medium- and long-term.

From Dan and Bhuan:
On September 12^th, we were warmly welcomed by Stephen Ssemutumba, BUVAD’s director, and the community. The visit provided an opportunity to learn more about BUVAD’s work, which include many projects, from providing students with school supplies, to procuring a sunflower press for local farmers, to building borehole wells. In addition to visiting the first well funded by Minga, located at Bwetyaaba primary school, we had the opportunity to visit four of BUVAD’s other completed well sites. We were also able to discuss the impact of the wells, as well as well governance, with community leaders and community members. We also participated in meetings with members of the Bwetyaaba Parent-Teacher Association, with members of the well management committees, and with local water and health officials. It was wonderful to learn first-hand of the immediate impact access to safe water had on community members’ daily lives. It was also exciting to observe the well governance process first-hand, and to see the attention committee members gave to issues of governance and sustainability.

 All of us here at Minga are looking forward to the completion of the second and third wells in the coming months. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our donors, and for this we cannot thank you enough. There is still plenty of work to be done, and we continue to rely on your support!