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Uganda
Water Missions Uganda
Jinja, Uganda
Number of Safe Water Projects: 47
Number of Staff: 11
Language - Swahili and English.
GDP Per Capita - $1,300
Population - 32 million
Poverty Level - Nearly 35 percent live below the poverty line.
Religion- Roughly 84 percent of the population is Christian, a large number of whom are Roman Catholic.
Climate- Tropical; generally rainy with two distinct dry seasons.
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Brief History- Although settled by indigenous tribes early in history, European travelers and Arab traders discovered Uganda in the mid-1800’s. The Lord’s Resistance Army had been recruiting child soldiers for Sudan in battle against Uganda. This war has lasted a few decades and devastated the people of Uganda. The LRA has been chased to the Congo and is no longer operating in Uganda at this point.
A group of students from Kojja Secondary School getting safe water in their jerry cans.
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A couple notes from our Country Director in Uganda.
Key Accomplishment of 2010: We completed a project in a village called
Kahama. Because this village was perched high up on a hill, the people had to walk down about a mile to the water source at the bottom of the valley. This project was the most technically challenging one that we have ever done because it was tricky to pump the water up so high. Having safe water close to their homes has transformed their lives.
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Favorite Story: During the project in Kasambya, we were frustrated that the trenches for the water pipes were not being dug at the speed that we had hoped. When we asked why the trenches were not completed, the people said that they were busy attending the funerals of 5 children who died that week, reportedly from typhoid. After that week, the whole village worked together to dig 2 kilometers of trenches. Even the children helped to carry bricks for the building that housed the water treatment system. This community was extremely thankful for the system and understands how much having safe water will improve their health. This story inspires us to work harder and bring safe water to more people.
Going Forward in 2011: Water Missions Uganda recently started a large
project called Water for Africa, which focuses on providing many fishing villages around Lake Victoria with safe water and the good news of the Living Water. We are also conducting a health impact study to measure at the effectiveness of the Living Water Treatment System in preventing waterborne diseases.
To donate to our Uganda Country Program, please go to my.watermissions.org/donate and designate Uganda Country Program.