Though Masindi is a region with abundant rain fall, Busoga Trust’s survey work reveals a region with too few reliable sources of clean water in the rural regions (near 30% coverage in Pakanyi sub-region where we have begun work). We estimate that to achieve water coverage targets of 70%, 200 new and rehabilitated water sources are needed in Masindi.

Masindi is a District in Uganda bordered by the Districts of Apac in the East, Gulu in the North, Luwero and Hoima in the South, and Lake Albert in the West. The population is estimated to be around 480,000. Masindi lies at an altitude of between 621-1,158 m in a savannah climatic zone. Temperatures average above 25 degrees centigrade and annual rainfall ranges averages about 52 inches. While overall rainfall is ample in Masindi, severe shortages occur during the during the dry seasons (from December to February and in June and July as ground water becomes dirtier and scarcer. See the following report from Foodnet, (an African research firm) for more background information on Masindi . 

For much of the last decade the Masindi region was home to a considerable refugee population due to unrest in the north of Uganda. Refugees can be an impediment to sustainable development and in the case of Masindi, aid over the last decade has been focused on refugees more than on sustainable water and other development. The refugee population is now declining in Masindi due to the recent truce between the LRA and the Ugandan government, allowing many to return to their homes in the north.

Busoga Trust completed a baseline survey of the overall Masindi region in September of 2007 and then a more detailed survey in January 2008 of the Pakanyi district. The results of our baseline surveys show the urgent need for rural water development in Masindi. The Pakanyi survey revealed just 31% protected water source coverage, the 10% improved latrine coverage and the 6% hand washing facility coverage. See the following Unesco report for more about water issues in Uganda

In the 14 villages surveyed in the Pakanyi district, there were a total of 32 protected sources but just 21 were functional. The survey showed that of the functional sources, a high percentage were providing a very low yield, and would often dry up in the dry season. This was especially a problem with the protected springs. There was a high degree of bacterial and physical contamination in each of the unprotected sources. E.coili counts were above 100 per 100mls. For more detail, view a copy of our January Pakanyi survey. The causes of this contamination may include any or all of the following; dipping of dirty Jerry cans in the water, stepping in source while collecting water, rotting debris, use of the water source by animals, and dirty run-off water caused by rains that may include human feces. This survey has highlighted the pressing need for the provision of water and the development of hygiene and sanitation in Pakanyi Sub-county.