Busitema, Uganda

791 children in Busitema ADP are supported by Irish sponsors since 2006.

While education in Uganda is free, we still face major challenges when it comes to attendance. A key reason for this is that children often don’t have time to go to school as they spend hours completing household chores. This was the case in Busitema, where children spent several hours per day fetching water from hand dug wells and swamps – often sources that were contaminated by chemicals from a nearby mine and frequently used by animals.

The construction of boreholes at two local primary schools means that now 700 pupils as well as the surrounding community has access to safe, clean water. Clean water has ensured that waterborne diseases are reduced. This resulted in better attendance in school and higher concentration levels.

The construction of a borehole is not as simple as digging. A water committee is trained in maintenance and other skills like book-keeping in order to collect a small fee from each household (so that the committee has a cash resource for repairs) and usage management (to prevent wastage and regulate water supply).This ensures the longevity of the project.

World Vision then partnered with the District Health Department on a hygiene and sanitation awareness campaign amongst the community. Households were assessed on hygiene practices and awarded prizes at a community event for best practices.

So much happened in 2011 - for example... 

• Over 2,000 community members including religious leaders and youth leaders were trained on the importance of child rights and how to protect children.
• 120 people suffering from HIV and aIDs received training on nutrition and managing their illness to better cope with the affects of the virus.
• 2 boreholes were constructed at 2 primary schools providing access to clean water to 700 pupils and the surrounding communities.
• 268 local leaders attended a session discussing the danger of early marriage. As a result, no cases of early marriage were recorded during the year.
• Over 100 children affected by child abuse received support and home visits from professional counsellors.

2012 Challenge

In Uganda’s capital Kampala, there are four times more health workers per person than in rural areas like Busitema. In 2012, we will partner with the Ministry of Health to develop the role of voluntary community health workers to promote healthcare facilities especially to pregnant women and children.

Find out more about life in Uganda and why going to school, even if there are no school fees, is still difficult for some children.