The two dilapidated springs were reinvigorated by the WATSAN team, who worked closely with the beneficiary communities to gain buy-in, carry out construction work and hand over responsibility.

The spring in Kinyasano Junction is located in an area with a very high beneficiary population, because it is close to urban areas with low-income earners and who cannot afford water bills levied on water supplied by the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC). The spring serves three highly populated schools, especially during the day when National Water supply is unreliable.

The spring was re-constructed, and because of its high yield, it was possible to include a reservoir tank, which lead to a reduction in overall construction costs. It was commissioned by Bishop Onesimus (pictured) on 11th September 2023. The Bishop praised the community leaders involved in the project for creating unity across various different religious denominations, working together for the good of their people. He also expressed his gratitude towards the UK Support Group for funding the re-construction of this spring. His talk also covered aspects of safeguarding at the spring, especially for women and children, who are the main people collecting water on behalf of their families.

In Kashasha, 40 households and members of a primary school, a secondary school, a hospital and a church were sharing a dysfunctional spring in the community (approx 1,600 people). The spring was next to a roadside, increasing use, and despite having multiple water eyes, it was not yielding its full potential.

An inception meeting was held and a Project Implementation Committee appointed, whose members received training in governance and safeguarding. Members of the community contributed raw materials and hard labout to the construction, which included a new water channel (pictured).

On 28th September the spring was commissioned by Bishop Dan Zoreka, who commended “the cordial relationship between church and government in the social service sector, but most of all the WATSAN Programme for the quality work well done, and the UK Support Group for their selfless heart and for the financial assistance”.

Read more about our completed projects

Would you like to become more involved with WATSAN? The UK Support team is offering the opportunity for like-minded volunteers to join the Board of Trustees to offer their skills for the benefit of disadvantaged communities in Uganda.

Since 2005, WATSAN Uganda: UK Support has been raising funds from voluntary sources in order to work in partnership with a separately constituted Ugandan delivery team, which incurs project and running costs. We employ no staff in the UK, and have an annual turnover of up to £100,000, including regular donations, grant receipts and sponsorship from our regular big event: the Walk for Water.

The current trustees are looking to bring a more diverse range of perspectives and specialisms to the Board – and in particular to recruit a new Secretary with up-to-date administration skills. A full briefing and handover will be given by current Secretary Ellie Bensted, who has ably helped steer the charity in this role since WATSAN was founded in 2005!

A full job description for the Secretary role can be found here.

We would also be interested to hear from volunteers with experience in fundraising and event management.

Contact us to enquire or apply

WATSAN supporters took part in eight different sponsored walks across the UK during June 2023, from Hampshire in the South the Lake District in the North.

The walks and their leaders were as follows:

1. Hampshire, Pilgrim’s Way (South Downs) – James Hunt
2. Kent, Saxon shoreline (North Downs) – Martin Fosten
3. Somerset – Annie Gurner
4. Oxfordshire, Thames Path – Stephen and Maria Heywood
5. Leicestershire Charnwood Hills – Andrew Starr
6. South Derbyshire – Michael Vick
7. Yorkshire, Cleveland Way – Andrew Bailey
8. Lake District, Ullswater – Trish and Barry Halls

You can see a photo album of the walks here [downloads ppt]

Walkers and walk leaders got together on Zoom on 1st July to exchange stories, photos and fundraising totals, culminating in a total of £13,342 raised for WATSAN’s Kazuru gravity flow scheme, which will serve a large, remote community on the DRC border with its first supply of piped water.

Grateful thanks to the walkers and their friends for their sponsorship; to the walk leaders shown above for coordinating people and routes; and to Andrew Starr to pulling the whole event (and photos) together!

Donate to WATSAN

Thanks to our generous donors, who bid on an array of prizes from a signed rugby shirt to tea in the House of Lords, we have raised a significant amount towards our current target project.

The auction was held on Zoom on 16th March 2023, and was expertly compered by BBC Radio Oxford presenter Sophie Law. The event opened with an update from WATSAN’s Chair Ian Bensted, who explained that times are difficult for the WATSAN team, with the fall-out of COVID and a cost-of-living crisis still being felt. Trustee Kate Parrinder shared a video about the Kazuru gravity flow scheme, a project in one of the remotest areas of Uganda that will benefit a large community with first-time piped water supply.

Sophie then led the bidding on 26 auction ‘lots’, including weekend stays at rural retreats in Wales and Devon; a signed rugby shirt by the 2004 England rugby team; tea on the terrace at the House of Lords; a chauffeur-driven ride in a vintage car; jewellry and crafts; tickets to family days, theatre and classical music concerts; and a hand-drawn sketch of your favourite pet! Sophie’s radio presenter patter made proceedings fly by, with lots of laughs and enthusiastic bidding from the assembled audience.

The event culminated in a lovely announcement from donor Martin Fosten, who had inherited a collection of historic football caps and offered to auction them off, with all proceeds to WATSAN.

Huge thanks to Martin, Sophie and in particular Jenny Vaughan, who had the auction idea and obtained many of the prizes.

Find out more about Kazuru

Thanks to the generosity of many of our supporters sharing their time, skills and access, we are now able to announce a catalogue of 26 brilliant auction lots.

Auction prizes on offer include weekend stays at rural retreats in Wales and Devon; a signed rugby shirt by the 2004 England rugby team; tea on the terrace at the House of Lords; a chauffeur-driven ride in a vintage car; jewellry and crafts; tickets to family days, theatre and classical music concerts; and a hand-drawn sketch of your favourite pet!

Download the full catalogue of auction lots

The auction will take place online on Thursday 16th March, along with a virtual ‘cheese and wine’ WATSAN update.

You are encouraged to invite as many friends, family and acquaintances as possible to have the opportunity to bid on these fabulous and unique auction lots.

Date: Thursday 16th March

Time: 7.30-9.00pm

Location: Zoom

Register here to join WATSAN and our auctioneer, BBC presenter Sophie Law, for a informative and fun evening.