Buwunga Community Water Project

Over the past 3 months, PICC completed the survey and siting of the borehole, finalized the construction plan with the community, and began drilling.

Drilling of the borehole began on 16 March 2019 and the contractor was initially able to dig ~120 feet.  The drill encountered thick clay and mud at that depth and the contractor made the determination that the project required a different drill-rig, which had to be sourced from northern Uganda.

Unfortunately, the new rig is experiencing technical issues, which require a replacement part to be brought in from India.  The team looked into other, more expedient, replacement options, including sourcing for a similar drill-rig from an alternate company.  Regrettably, the costs were prohibitive, and most rigs were fully booked until the end of June with Ministry of Water and Environment work.

So, for now, we wait for the additional part from India.  This delay, coupled with the start of the rainy season in Uganda, shifts the timeline to complete drilling to the end of the summer.

We have continued to keep the Buwunga community apprised of the situation, and despite this disappointment the community remains engaged and supportive.  They agree that the benefits of clean water are worth waiting for. 

Fortunately, the drilling delay has not impacted some of our other work, including youth outreach. Last month, PICC collaborated with a local Ugandan entrepreneur to support a football tournament with 200 adolescents from Buwunga and 5 outlying island communities.  The tournament was used as a way of engaging youth in discussions around livelihoods and health. 

Thank you for your generosity in supporting Peace Island Children's Center. We look forward to providing further updates on this project, along with our other work with the Lake Victoria fishing communities.