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Community heroes working for lasting water solutions

By IW:LEARN

September 29^th, 2025

Benon Byabasaija and Alfonse Mugambwa have become local heroes in the Birere subcounty of Isingiro District. Nearly everyone in the area knows them for their dedication to the community.

Byabasaija is the trusted expert for families and businesses needing hand-dug wells. With his skilled hands and dedication, he ensures communities have reliable access to underground water. Similarly, Mugambwa, who proudly identifies as “the supreme caretaker of all the spring water points” in the Kasana Parish of Birere sub-county, plays a crucial role in maintaining these water sources. Through his self-appointed responsibility, he ensures that everyone in his parish has access to clean and accessible water.

Together, Byabasaija and Mugambwa provide more than just water; they help their community live healthier lives, and everyone in the subcounty greatly appreciates their efforts. These two men’s initiatives have transformed lives in Isingiro, a district often affected by water scarcity.

In this photo series, photojournalist Emma Muchunguzi visited the Birere sub-county in Isingiro, southwestern Uganda. He photographed Benon Byabasaija and Alfonse Mugambwa as they worked to improve their community’s access to groundwater.

For 13 years, Byabasaija has worked as a “well-digger,” as he identifies himself.

He says he has been “providing reliable and affordable water sources to the community through hand-dug wells” for all these years. He estimates the wells he has dug for the last 13 years to be over 50.

Byabasaija explains that “a hand-dug well requires a one-time investment, providing access to a lifetime source of water for domestic and commercial purposes at a lower cost than tap water.”

He explains that most of the underground water wells he constructs are located near homes, which saves women from traveling long distances to fetch water from surface water sources such as shallow wells, rivers, and lakes.

Community heroes working for lasting water solutions

Byabasaija climbing down to the bottom of the well, he is ready to find water.

Down is far, but Byabashaija reaches there.

The men do not only lower Byabashaija down into the well but also a jerrycan and other plastic tins that he uses to bring up the dug soil, mad and finally water when he reaches.

They finally found water! Byabashaija and friends pour it into a jerrycan and bring it up to celebrate.

Once water is found, Byabashaija constructs the well to make sure it stores water found for years.

Just like Byabasaija, Mugambwa, acknowledges the many benefits of groundwater as a solution to water scarcity, particularly in rural areas where access to tap water is hard.

“Spring water is natural and contains pure minerals that are good for human health and animals. It provides an inexpensive alternative source of water in rural settings compared to tap water,” notes Mugambwa.

Mugambwa narrates that filling a 20-liter jerrican with spring water once took only one minute, allowing people to fetch water around the clock without the hassle of long lines or bills. Sadly, he laments that these spring water points are at risk of drying up due to unhealthy environmental practices.

He points out that some families are planting eucalyptus trees and encroaching on wetlands, which damages groundwater recharge points.

Mugambwa is concerned that, over time, people in this community might revert to suffering from water scarcity due to environmental degradation caused by human activities that destroy catchment areas for groundwater.

Groundwater catchments or recharge areas are points where water infiltrates the ground and replenishes aquifers.

A perfect example is a wetland. Wetlands naturally filter and store water, acting as significant catchment zones for groundwater. Others are water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and ponds, which allow water to seep into the surrounding soil, helping to recharge groundwater.

Groundwater catchments or recharge areas are points where water infiltrates the ground and replenishes aquifers.

Wetlands filter and store water, acting as significant catchment zones for groundwater.

Isingiro district is located within the Kagera aquifer area of Kagera river basin, replenished mainly by rainfall, the Kagera River, and surrounding wetlands. According to the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), the aquifer feeds into the Kagera River and wetlands.

The annual recharge of the aquifer is estimated to be between 40 and 50 MCM. NBI’s modeling shows that the aquifer can sustainably provide up to 140,000 m³ per day, roughly 70% of the daily water needs for the population in the aquifer area by 2050.

For over half a century, Alfonse Mugambwa has been taking care of all the spring water points in the Kasana Parish of Birere sub-county. In Isingiro district.

“As the caretaker of the spring water points in Kasana Parish, I take my role seriously,” Mugambwa.

He narrates that his daily tasks involve checking each water source to ensure it remains clean and free from contamination. He also makes repairs when needed and keeps the areas surrounding the springs safe from pollution.

Mugambwa also spends time educating his neighbours about the importance of protecting water sources and practising good hygiene.

For half a century, Mugambwa has been caring for all the spring water points, including those above, in the Kasana Parish of Birere sub-county.

In Birere sub-county, just like other places in Uganda, spring wells are a source of water that supports both human and ecological health.

They provide clean, accessible water for drinking, irrigation, and sanitation, enabling the maintenance of community well-being and agricultural productivity.

The steady flow of spring water can also help sustain local ecosystems, supporting diverse plant and animal life.

Additionally, spring wells often hold cultural significance, serving as communal gathering places and symbols of shared resources in Birere.

About the project

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is implementing a Project entitled “Enhancing Conjunctive Management of Surface and Groundwater Resources in Selected Transboundary Aquifers: Case Study for Selected Shared Groundwater Bodies in the Nile Basin,” with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The goal is to improve water resource management at the national and basin levels.

The first phase concentrated on building knowledge and capacity for the sustainable use and management of significant transboundary aquifers within the Nile Basin. Three aquifer areas were selected for intervention: the Kagera aquifer, shared by Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi; the Mt. Elgon aquifer, shared by Uganda and Kenya; and the Gedaref-Adigrat aquifer, shared by Sudan and Ethiopia. The Mount Elgon aquifer, in particular, faces significant water stress due to a lack of water storage and seasonal river flow variability. Relying heavily on groundwater, which is being depleted by population growth and increased tube well use, the aquifer shows a decline in water levels. As a result, the government and households face the cost of deepening or digging new wells and lowering pumps.

The initial phase involved gathering existing data and creating a Shared Aquifer Diagnostic Report (SADA) for the three selected aquifers. The subsequent phase engaged in groundwater modeling to enhance the understanding of the aquifers and analyze scenarios based on changes in climate and groundwater use. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) techniques are being explored to help replenish groundwater levels, ensuring a more stable and secure water supply in areas like Mount Elgon, where demand is increasing.

For more information on the project, please contact the Project Manager, Maha Abdelraheem Ismail (mabdelraheem@nilebasin.org), visit the project website, or view the dedicated project page on iwlearn.net.