The Rotary Club of Havant working with
the Rotary Club of the Source of the Nile, Uganda
Whilst I was in Uganda, I also visited the Rotary Club of Source of the Nile. Their President was then Lillian
Kakembo.
She was very helpful to me. Not only did she show me their projects and
show me a potential project for Havant Rotary Club to take on, she
helped me with my own work in Uganda. Lillian and George Waibi took me
to the village of Bupadhengo, 35 kilometres from Jinja. George’s car
broke down on the way but luckily a friend of his was passing. He
stopped, took us to the village and remained with us so that he could
run us back to Jinja after we had finished our task at the village.
Topher
Magumbo, the village chairman, and many villagers had gathered to meet
us. We drank tea, there were some dances, then we drove to the site of
the nearest spring. It was sickening to see the water these people have
to drink. The pool was dirty and stinking. It’s amazing to me that any
of them survive it. Diarrhoea and vomiting are one of the top four
causes of death in Uganda.
George Waibi and Lillian Kakembo at the stinking pool.
After tea at Bupadhengo village
All the women are wearing their best clothes for the occasion. The traditional dresses with the pointed shoulders are
called gomas. They are considered to be a sign of respectability.
After
assessing the site, we returned to the village and made our farewells.
Some of the women had made a meal for us, but Lillian had other business
so we left for Jinja, to the sights and sounds of the women celebrating
because they trusted that eventually we would do something to help
them.
When I returned to the UK, I reported back to the
International Committee of our Club who decided that we would pay for
the spring to be piped and protected. That meant that the stinking pool
would be transformed into an enclosed concrete structure with the
filtered water pouring from a pipe embedded in it, thus making it easier
for villagers and farmers to collect clean water and keep their jerry
cans clean in the process.
Below are photos of the work in
progress and the final structure with people already collecting water
from it. The area immediately above the source will be protected by the
planting of grass and a hedge to keep off both wild and domesticated
animals so that they don’t foul the water supply. When this is in place,
the spring will be commissioned with both villagers and Source of the
Nile Rotarians present. There will be a banner bearing the names of Both
Rotary Clubs to celebrate our collaboration.
It’s amazing to
think that 250 households, which with an average of 6.9 people per
household means 1,700 people, will benefit from this protected spring –
all for the sum of £500, which strikes me as being exceptionally good
value! 
John Otema, President of the Rotary Club of Source of President John inspecting the protected spring in the
the Nile,celebrating the start of the work with some of company of one of the village women who is collecting
the village women water for her family.
It isn't just the villagers who collect water from the spring. Villagers walking to the site of the protected spring for This is one of the local farmers. It's good to see him look the ceremonials of the official opening of the spring
so happy!
George Waibi (centre) with the 2011Rotary International One of the elders greeting members of the Rotary Club pennant. Topher Magumbo, the village chairman, left of of Source of the Nile and expressing her appreciation centre - still wearing the spectacles I gave him! 
Excited women dancing and drumming before the hand President John Otema sharing the holding of the RI
over of the site to the contractor after the completion of pennant with Lillian Kakembo who was the initiator of the
the preliminary clearance work project during her presidency in 2010.
The members of the Rotary Club of Havant are grateful to their fellow Rotarians at the Rotary Club of Source of the Nile for all they have done to enable them to help the people of Bupadhengo village.
