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What?

A shallow well will be hand dug in one of Masindi's villages. Once a satisfactory depth is reached, the well will be lined with bricks to provide structural support for its walls. To ensure the well is protected from contamination, it will be capped with a concrete slab and equipped with a hand pump. A drainage system will also be constructed to prevent any standing water from accumulating around the pump base.

Community members will be provided with pick axes and shovels to excavate the pits in their homes and construct pit latrines. They will then use local materials to build the superstructure. A health seminar and subsequent follow ups will also be conducted in the village to emphasize good hygienic practices.

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Why?

In Masindi, the consumption of dirty drinking water causes numerous preventable diseases. These illnesses often lead to debilitating symptoms such as diarrhea, which can weaken adults and prove fatal to children. Issues related to unsafe water sources in the district's village are compounded by poor sanitation facilities that contribute to the spread of disease. In particular, the practice of open defecation creates an environment in which fecal matter can easily contaminate key water and nutritional resources. By providing a proper source of clean water and tools needed to improve sanitation in Masindi, this project will considerably lessen the transmission of diseases within the community.

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How?

This project is designed to involve the Masindi community as much as possible. The shallow well will be hand dug and the villagers will provide the majority of the needed labor. A technician will be on-site to supervise and carry out all the technical aspects of the construction such as bricking up the well walls and building a drainage system. The well’s hand pump will be installed by a trained mechanic. To ensure the well is properly maintained a group of 8 - 10 community members will be elected to a Water User Committee and will be trained in their roles and responsibilities.
The villagers will be completely responsible for the construction of pit latrines in their homes. They will use the provided equipment to dig pits after which point, they will build latrine superstructures using locally available materials. Baseline surveys conducted before and after the project will help to assess the impact of the interventions of hygiene and sanitation in Masindi.

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History of Masindi

Masindi District is home to a diverse population. During the past decade, this has included refugees who were fleeing the unrest in northern Uganda. Unfortunately, the growing numbers of refugees led to most of the district's aid being directed at addressing the needs of this increasing population rather than long-term challenges such as sustainable water sources or developing basic infrastructure. However, a recent truce is enabling some of the refugees to return to their homes and allowing more attention to be directed at these pressing challenges.

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Climate

Temperatures average above 25 degrees centigrade and annual rainfall ranges averages about 52 inches. While overall rainfall is ample in Masindi, severe shortages occur during the during the dry seasons (from December to February and in June and July) as ground water becomes dirtier and scarcer.

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Challenges facing Masindi

Masindi's limited infrastructure means many of its families struggle to met their basic needs. Access to safe drinking Water and proper sanitation are the most pressing of these concerns. In addition, there is a serious need for additional healthcare providers as only two hospitals are open in the district. Education also poses concerns for the region, although the district does have 210 primary schools; this last issue has recently become a priority for municipal authorities who are working to address it.

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Main Occupations

The great majority of residents within the Masindi district are subsistence farmers. They mainly grow maize, which is then ground into flour. Consistent employment is only available in Masindi’s major towns.

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