Amuria

Amuria is a north eastern district of Uganda in the Teso Region. the area has suffered many hardships in recent years with much of the population being displaced by LRA aggression which was exacerbated by Karimojong raiding and the impact of the severe flooding in 2007. Many of the people of this area are barely returning to their homes to begin again to work their farms and find a way of making a living for their families.

It is a beautiful farming community with a variety of crops: Cassava, Sweet potatoes, Groundnuts, Sorghum, Millet, Peas, Simsim, Cotton, Sunflower, Rice, Maize, Beans, Soybeans, and oranges .

Along with the farming of crops there is the raising of cattle and goats. Seems prosperous enough but today they are struggling with a severe drought which the government now predicts will turn into a famine in a few months. Hard to believe since just south of Amuria is the wetlands where there is water in abundance.

Life is difficult - poverty is common. Seems like they just can't get a leg up before something else hits them to push them down.

Back in January we received a request from Minister Ecweru, Minister of Emergency, Disaster Relief and Refugees, to have a water project in Amuria. Easy enough request but a hard project to get organized and started as the area is very remote and

many of the roads are not roads but trails making it difficult to work in the areas. Homes are very spartan in that as soon as you leave the town proper everyone lives in a mud hut with a thatched roof.

Interesting sites with in the city limits - a view of a bygone street light and yes that is a little tiny light bulb dangling from the fixture.

A school bus loaded with children, Actually we have seen 50 children in the back of a truck just standing and hanging on to the sides so this bus at least has seats.

It is not unusual to see goats sitting in the median of main street or cows walking down the middle of the road downtown. (Whose cows are they anyway?)

Taxis in this area are a bit different also, after all we are out in the country.

Some taxis are more familiar looking but in Amuria they are always loaded and you never know what you will see riding on top, a goat, chickens.

Now you have a picture of Amuria. A little bit of contemporary but a whole lot of country.

Seems Amuria does things a little bit different on these water projects and instead of getting right down to business you have to have a FLAG OFF to get the project started. (Flag off? What is that?)

We printed a banner as requested and headed to the Flag Off celebration. But since the ceremony was suppose to start at 10:00 AM we decided to visit a few of the schools we are going to be working on.

Old latrines will be replaced with new latrines along with each of the 15 schools getting a rainwater catchment system.

As a mission farewell gesture we have decided to give each school a tree to commemorate the project. We planted a Mango tree at two schools this trip 

Senior girl Perfect (note the headband Ryan which we gave her for helping us plant the tree.)

and gave a soccer ball (oops, football) to the school just for fun since most children play with a ball made of plastic bags and string.

At the second school we visited we found all the girls crocheting.

With a safety pin! Who would have thought. They were quite adept at it too. They were using a very stiff thread and it made a very tight stitch but very pretty how they were doing the color weave.

Bright eyes full of hope and joy. African children are good at finding ways to be happy and joyful.

Well, it was12:00 pm and we decided it must be time for the 10:00 am Flag Off (Ugandan time)..

As we drove into the clearing in the village there was the banner and several people peering through the brush. As soon as they saw us coming they started to dance and sing.

We got out of the car and they led us in with singing and dancing, yelling and warbling.and the waving of leaf bouquets, a sign of good fortune and celebration.

We sat under a very large old hardwood tree

while we listened to the music and singing of the local band. The music was very good especially considering it was made on local homemade instruments.

Harriet asked if she could translate the ceremony for me as it was in the local language. Nearly every village in this area of Uganda has their own language. Most people end us speaking about 5 languages in Uganda including English and Lugandan

The man who donated the land for this borehole welcomed us and thanked the church for giving his community water to relieve their suffering.

He was dressed in his best suit and danced for us in celebrating the beginning of the drilling

It wasn't long till Betty our community Hygiene/Sanitation trainer was so into the celebration that she pulled us up to dance with the group

Then everyone was up dancing and celebrating including all the district officers who had come to speak at the Flag Off.

Each song that was sung reinforced the joy of getting clean water, improving the sanitation of the community and helping families to be healthy and avoid disease.

Another song was sung by the village group

" One day God will ask what you have done.

We will all be judged by what we have given.

We pray to God to take care of all the people.

Who can save the world?

The one who can save the children,

Who can save the women,

Who can save the men.

Everyone has to be accountable for what they do while living."

The Deputy Commissioner of Amuria guaranteed that Amuria will own this project. He said that the district had 61% clean water coverage and 58% sanitation coverage. The church's water project would improve these statistics considerably with the wells, latrines, family latrine slabs and hygiene and sanitation training.

Ssimbwa (project monitor), Robert (Minister Ecweru's brother and our community liason), Francis Kalema (drilling company), Hannington Kihuntu (Latrine construction ) Betty (Hygiene/Sanitation Training)

Elder Barlow introduced the team to the community. He explained that this was the team that would be working in their community to make the project happen. It was important for each community to work with the team for a successful project.

Minster Ecweru's representative, Moses recognized Ssimbwa as a good liason for the church as he has worked to establish the borehole sites with the district. He stated that the gift from the church far exceeded what the district had budgeted for the year. He acknowledge the impact such a project will have on the health of families. He also explained the uniqueness of the project in providing things that the District had never included in their budget but would now like to make standard for projects in the District such as the girls washroom in the latrine and the clothes washing stations at the water sites. He stated that the community should appreciate the practicality of the project and the thought that went into the planning to make the most of the project.

The District chairman Alumee LC5 talked about the history of suffering in the area with the wars and unrest along with the fluctuating flooding and drought. Much of the population have recently returned to the area and have started to reestablish their homes. The need for clean water is great and the project is very timely. He directed the new Disitrict Team to take advantage of this opportunity and work to gether to deliver the proper services to the community such as roads, well staffed health centers and additional water resources.

He declared the drilling officially launched.

2011 District Budget

9 school latrines

9 boreholes

Church project

15 school latrines with hand washing stations

15 school rainwater catchment systems

600 family latrine slabs

10 new boreholes

10 refurbished boreholes

10 clothes washing stations

20 communities Hygiene/Sanitation Training

15 schools Hygiene/Sanitation Training

They turned on the drilling machine and immediately there was water (staged a little but still an impressive site.

We planted trees to commemorate the Flag off and to leave the community a symbol of the growing change coming to their community.

The owner of the property for this first well obviously was suffering from cataracts as was his wife.

We had with us some glasses (magnifiers) so we gave them each a pair with a high power. They were elated as was all those around them who cheered their good fortune.

Time to leave we had a long ride home, 6 hours to Kampala.

Three stops on the way home. Farrell had to gas up at the TOTAL Station for our long trek home.

I had to visit the Thursday market and buy some baskets I couldn't live without

Ssimbwa had to stop and buy some newly harvested rice to feed his school children.

A great trip to Amuria.

The water project has begun.

A Flag Off!

That was a first for us.

June a very busy month

June has a bad reputation in Uganda. It is the beginning of the dry season when the frequency of malaria increases. Farmers harvest their corn, matoke and fruit and prices are low because of the abundance. This year we had many negative things happening in June

• Demonstrations by some people, protesting the increased prices of food to the consumers, tax on food and people were desperate to afford food for their families.
• Dry season came late causing harvest problems.
• Many people have been sick with the flu and malaria resulting in many deaths even among our church members. Hardly a household has not been affected by these illnesses.
• We have had lightening storms and there have been over 30 people killed by lightning and many more injured.

Ssimbwa said we had had an incredible month in humanitarian services this June and we had brought a positive outcome to this dreaded month. In June we have

• Closed two very successful water projects
• Opened two new water projects
• Received our wheelchair shipment - Held the wheelchair training and started distribution of wheelchairs.
• Closed a family health and hygiene project
• Opened two more family health and hygiene projects.
• We haven't had one accident (car) the whole month and we have come close many times.

According to Ssimbwa, "This has been a very good month. Even with all the bad things happening the Lord has blessed us all to have these good things happen."

MBALE Clean Water Project

TURNOVER CEREMONY

7 June 2011

Funding by: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Implementation by: Union of Community Development Volunteers of Uganda

History: Construction of springs started 22 Jan 2011 - Finished 23 May 2011

Project consisted of

· 60 protecting spring water sources

· 15 school pit latrines with handwashing stations

· 15 rain water catchment systems at schools

· 30 clothes washing station

500 latrine slabs for at risk families without latrines

· 65 communities received Hygiene/Sanitation training

Ceremony held at the army school -2400 students - they desperately needed a new latrine and a water tank.

My new friend - I had to rescue her from the crowd as she had fallen down and the children were walking right over her.

Sign commemorating the dedication of the springs.

Elder and Sister Rixs came to the ceremony to represent the church. They are missionaries supporting the new branch in Mbale.

We had a dedication ceremony for the 60 springs with a ribbon cutting

Some of the women beneficiaries who were very excited to have a clothes washing station next to the spring.

A lot of entertainment - note the instruments - clay pot hit with a wooden mallet, flat rock beat with a stick and a
Ugandan drum - they made good music.

Beneficiary Communities: "Our community received 60 springs in 3 months. This is an accomplishment that has never before been heard of. Providing of 30 clothes washing stations a gift we had never before heard of now allows us to dispose of waste water effectively down stream instead of washing at the top of the hill where springs are generated and could be contaminated. This will save us from cholera and many diseases."

Head Teacher, Waluka John (representing the 15 schools receiving latrines and water catchment systems):

"Having the construction of the new design of VIP latrine with a school water catchment system is a land mark in our lives that will not be forgotten. We strongly urge all of the beneficiaries to protect and keep the gift that has been given."

LC3 Asharki Hahamas: (this man was very supportive of the project. He found a house for the construction crew to live in and gave UCDVU an office in the government complex of the sub-county.
"It was not by chance that you came to Mbale. You were sent to us. The tank provided for the Army school is life. We could not succeed without this water. We didn’t know your message to come was real we should not have been a doubting Thomas. We welcomed UCDVU giving them housing and an office to guide and protect them. They did what they said they would do in record time. What you have done is much but we need more."

Eddie Mutebi, Director of UCDVU: "On Jan 17^th a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Mbale District by THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS and the COU of Mbale District. Just 4 ½ months later the project is completed, Access for clean water has been given for 113,000 people of the district. Hygiene and Sanitation has greatly improved and will continue to improve with the teaching of the established Hygiene and Sanitation team. We have worked with the leaders at all level and have had good cooperation to implement this project."

Pres. George Mubeala - Mbale Branch President (He had just been sustained and set apart as the branch president for the newly organized Mbale Branch three days before this ceremony.): "The Church has been generous to our community. We only ask that you take care of this gift and make it last. You are all invited to visit us at our services every Sunday."

CAO Mbale District: "This event has been a accomplished in record time with an amount of work done that we have never had before. We extend our appreciation for all the work. Livelihoods have improved. Diarrhea and worms may now be avoided if the resources are kept clean and usable. Latrines will be spoiled if they are mistreated. The tanks at the schools must be protected and we encourage each school to put a cement barrier around these tanks to safe guard them. We have had problems of not maintaining the spring structures in the past and mistreating them. All communities must take responsibility and care for these structures. We are indebted to our donors."

Chairperson LCV - Official Guest: I attended a Hygiene and Sanitation training session. It was good and I learned. The trainers were good and made the training a good time.

We have been weak in clean water, sanitation and hygiene. Our rivers are silted and contaminated. We need to raise our standard especially in schools, our schools that can’t even afford chalk.

Your good deeds are coming from a Christian source. You have shown us that we should look after the body that God has given us. We are grateful for the influence you have brought to our communities.

Newly trained hygiene and sanitation trainers. They are specialists, it says so on the back of their shirts they got when they finished the training.

The greatest beneficiaries of these water projects are the women of the community.

Everyone receiving Hygiene and Sanitation training were asked to make a tippy tap for hand washing after using the latrine. They are very effective and people were very compliant in building them.

This man is a professional singer who happens to be handicapped. He sang about the abilities of people instead of concentrating on the disabilities. The day after this program he contacted the Rixs and asked for information about the church. He is taking the missionary discussions and is very interested in being baptized.

Many awards were given out at the ceremony with each person training in Hygiene and Sanitation program being given a certificate of completion, and the church was given a beautiful plaque in appreciation of the quality of the gift that was given. This plaque will be displayed at the church in Mbale.

Many children sang, danced and put on skits about what they had learned about hygiene and sanitation.

Kiryandongo Clean Water Project

TURNOVER CEREMONY

10 June 2011

Funding by: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Implementation by: AFRICAN HUMAN RESOURCE INITIATIVE STRATEGIES

History: Construction of started 22 Jan 2011 - Finished 1 Jun 2011

Project consisted of

· 50 hand dug wells

· 14 school pit latrines with hand washing stations

· 14 rain water catchment systems at schools

Kiryandongo Level 3 hospital received a latrine and two water tanks

· 50 communities received Hygiene/Sanitation training

AHRIS , our contractor

We all met at AHRIS office prior to the turnover. We were greeted by these women singing about hygiene training and doing the dances of the Acholi.

Ssimbwa got in to it and played the drums for us - not bad but not quite as good as the real thing. The drummers in Uganda are very good. They drum bent over like this keeping a good steady beat and it goes on for a very long time.

Latrine at the Kiryandongo hospital has a terrazzo floor - easy to clean and will last a long time. Quite expensive but a good investment for a hospital.

The latrine was also outfitted with a water catchment system that feeds into the hand washing station which will help the sanitation for those using the latrine. This hospital has a water system that has failed and needs to be redone. An international organization keeps telling them that they will rehabilitate the system but nothing is happening yet. Meantime they are really struggling with their need for water and sanitation.

Wells are different than springs. They need continual maintenance and require a strong water committee to maintain the well and have people pay a small amount of money each month for the water. This well has been landscaped to help people realize the importance of maintaining the well. Each water committee was given training and some spare parts for their well and each sub=country was given tools and spare parts to maintain the wells. Water committees are charging each family using the well about 25 cents a month. This is enough money to pay for repairs as needed.

The head of the water committee is a very important person who needs to work closely with the community to maintain the well.

The district officer was pretty excited to get 50 new wells in his district. Their annual plan called for 2 wells for the whole district so 50 wells was a great windfall and then adding to that the latrines and water tanks at the schools. . . they felt like they had really won.

Our contractor Alex carved the table and chairs and presented them to us at the ceremony. We usually don't get gifts and if we do we usually give them away to someone in need. This gift was personalized in a way that it may be hard to give away.

Each piece is a carving of a well with people drawing water. They are beautiful and also have are name carved into them. Not easy to give away with that kind of personalization.

We were also given a chicken, a LIVE chicken. She is very colorful but she is alive. I explained to our site monitor, Hannington that he would need to take it as we had never killed and dressed a chicken ever and we were too old to start now. (I once told Olivia that I had never killed a chicken for dinner , ever. She did not believe me.)

So Hannington got the LIVE chicken. He is the site monitor he deserves the LIVE chicken. Besides our name wasn't carved into it so we didn't feel any personal obligation. (When we first met Hannington he told us he was a "man of few words." This is the same man that turned in a project report to us that was 300 pages long and bound - yes, a man of few words.)

We were served a LIGHT lunch but a lunch in Uganda is pretty substantial no matter what you call it.

They had lunch right in the middle of the program. This was moving way to slow so I went to help dish up food for 600 people. I made all the servers very nervous, I was putting too much food on the plate.

Just about every school had a number on the program. These dancers were very good and it was interesting to see the difference in the dancing from what we saw in Mbale. Although both areas are in the northern part of Uganda Mbale is east and Kiryandongo is central. Makes you realize how tribal the country is as the culture changes from one area to the next.
The dancers were very good and the singing was personalized, singing about the church and the gift of clean water and hygiene training.

Two turnover ceremonies in one week. What a great month June was turning out to be.