Projects

Uganda - Start Date: January 2006, End Date: December 2012

Pilot Project: Kasolwe, Uganda

Kasolwe is located in Kamuli District, Central Uganda. Kasolwe Parish has a population of approximately 4700 people (2000 estimate) and consists of 9 villages. Although WCDP will be based in the village of Kasolwe, the work will involve members of the entire Kasolwe Parish.

Kasolwe was selected as the pilot project site for primarily practical reasons. Because WCDP is a new organization, start-up funds are limited. As a result, WCDP needed to select a location that could be easily accessed by its staff. Kasolwe is the home village of the Uganda based WCDP representative, Robert Nabanyumya. Mr. Nabanyumya has begun working in Kasolwe and through his efforts, it was realized that the development of community cooperation, which is an essential element of the WCDP concept, can take several years. Therefore, a vital criteria is that any community we begin to work in must have the foundations of cooperation already present. Since Kasolwe has already begun this process, and has come together around the formation of a new school, it seemed like a reasonable place to begin. Mr. Nabanyumya also has large land holdings in the area which is being used for various purposes. He has embarked on a number of exploratory enterprises, including farming of cattle, pigs, and trees. Through his efforts, we already have a basic understanding of the needs and capacity of this area for development. With, or without, the assistance of WCDP, Mr. Nabanyumya will continue to invest in the people of Kasolwe. WCDP will support his efforts.

Kasolwe receives about 1350mm (53 inches) of rain annually. Rain falls in two seasons, from late October to early December, and from late March to early June. The area raises considerable cattle, and is the location of a government cattle breeding farm. Other crops that are viable in this area include oranges, mangos, potatoes, jackfruit and cassava. Cotton and timber are locally viable cash crops. Kasolwe is bordered by a swamp, and a small stream runs through it.

As in much of Africa, malaria and HIV are prominent health issues. Here in Kamuli District, pneumonia is also a significant cause of death, along with TB and diarrhea. Malnutrition, measles, cardiovascular disease, and maternal and prenatal diseases round out the top ten causes of mortality. All of these are preventable.

Kasolwe village is without electricity or running water (except at the government stock farm). Groundwater is not easily accessible, though with sufficient rainfall, rainwater catchment may be a viable alternative. There may be a power line running to the Kasolwe trading center. Solar power may be a more reasonable option. Uganda as a whole has a shortage of electricity, with frequent load shedding. To maintain a consistent, reliable power source, solar is available.

Kasolwe Parish is served by one private primary school and one private secondary school. While there are public schools available through the Universal Primary Education (UPE) system, these schools have not proven to be very effective. One private school, Green Court Foundation Primary school, was started by Robert Nabanyumya, who also provides most of the funding for teachers, and supplies. This school passed all of its P7 students into secondary. The only other P7 students to do so came from the other private school.

A marrum road runs through the Kasolwe trading center. Other two-track roads course through the surrounding villages. The trading center is small with only a few shops selling basic goods.

Because of the work of Robert Nabanyumya in Kasolwe, and the availability of land, this village will also make a suitable location for WCDI research to take place. The first project for WCDI will be a rainwater catchment system. Currently water is collected from the roof of the temporary school/village home of Mr Nabanyumya. A new, stand-alone system will be constructed for provision of water for cattle and crop irrigation.

Community related projects shall be developed with community members. The role of WCDP is to provide assistance only with helping the community to develop itself, based on goals developed and established by the community as a whole.