Easy and Affordable Access to Safe Drinking Water Changes Ugandan Lives – Grundfos
Lake Victoria is one of the primary water sources for the people of Uganda. It is one of the largest lakes in Africa and has long served as a key source of drinking water for nearby communities. However, over the years, increasing industrial activity around the lake has led to severe pollution. As a result, this natural water body became a carrier of contaminated water, exposing people to life-threatening waterborne diseases.
In 2015, the government of Iceland funded a four-year Water, Sanitation, and Health (WASH) project, recognizing the urgent need to act. This aim was to improve the quality of water and ensure access to water for underserved regions. This initiative was a collaborative effort involving the Buikwe District government, NGO Water Mission Uganda, and Grundfos. Grundfos is a global solution provider for water systems.
The team introduced a practical and sustainable water treatment solution as part of the WASH project. They drilled boreholes to tap into safer underground water, providing a trustworthy, clean water source. Additionally, piped water systems were installed, supported by solar-powered Grundfos AQtap water ATMs in 39 villages. These improvements positively impacted approximately 45,000 people. In under two years, the community saw a consistent drop in sickness caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation.
The Previous Situation of the People
Bugoba is a small village located in the hills above Lake Victoria. With a population of nearly 10,000, Bugoba's residents depended heavily on the lake, their surface water source, for their everyday needs. But this convenience came at a high cost.
Every day, women like Annet Kasukya would descend steep paths to fetch water, carrying back 20-litre jerrycans for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. Even if this repetitive task was exhausting and dangerous, no one questioned the practice because the lake was the only accessible drinking water source.
But soon, the village started facing the harsh reality of contaminated water. Annet’s daughter nearly died of dehydration after prolonged diarrhoea. A neighbour lost his life to bilharzia, a disease commonly linked to poor water hygiene. In desperation, some villagers tried going deeper into the lake for what they hoped was cleaner water. However, this only increased the risk of drowning and encounters with crocodiles.
There was a well, a possible improved water source, but it was located several hours away. Water vendors were another option, but they charged rates that were unaffordable for most families. With limited government support and no help from NGOs at the time, Bugoba’s residents were left in a dangerous situation, forced to choose between unsafe water and financial strain.
The Turning Point: Grundfos Lifelink Water System
When Maurice Ssebisubi and his team visited Kikondo, they found something amazing. Kikondo is a nearby village that has undergone a remarkable transformation using a solar-powered “water ATM.” It is an AQtap system that has been providing clean drinking water consistently for years.
The machine used a WaterCard system that allowed residents to pre-load funds and tap into water anytime they needed. Inspired by this innovation, the Icelandic government decided to invest $6.7 million in a long-term WASH programme that would include Bugoba.
The project brought multiple changes:
- New boreholes drilled into secure underground drinking water sources
- Solar-powered pumps that ensured a constant flow
- 107 water ATMs installed across 39 villages, three of which were placed in Bugoba
- Toilets, rainwater harvesting tanks, and hygiene training for long-term sustainability
These efforts ensured an improved water supply and created alternative water sources that could reduce dependency on the polluted lake.
How the Grundfos AQtap System Works
The Grundfos AQtap system doesn’t just provide water, it provides a safe, efficient, and transparent safe water supply. It begins by ensuring the quality of water through frequent testing and chlorination of the borehole water. This is a significant improvement over previous natural water sources like Lake Victoria, which were left untreated.
Solar power pumps the water into overhead tanks, and gravity distributes it through pipelines into the community. The water is dispensed through AQtap units placed at convenient locations in the village.
Residents use WaterCards to purchase 20 litres of clean drinking water for just 100 Ugandan shillings, less than 3 US cents. This simple system avoids handling cash and makes water available 24/7.
“The idea was to design a solution that didn’t rely on complex infrastructure or uncertain cash handling,” said Unnur Orradóttir Ramette, Iceland’s ambassador to Uganda. “It had to be something people could rely on.”
The system tracks everything in real-time: usage patterns, technical performance, and revenue. If something goes wrong, the maintenance team can troubleshoot the problem remotely. This efficiency also supports economic growth by reducing time lost to illness or water collection.
Previously, money collected for water used to disappear due to poor management. Now, every payment goes directly to a government district account. This has increased transparency and accountability.
Maurice calls these machines the “iPhones of water,” durable, smart, and user-friendly. In three years of use, there have been no major breakdowns, showing how well the system is built to last.
The Outcome: Health, Dignity, and Progress
In Bugoba, everything changed. The arrival of the AQtap system meant no more risky walks to collect unsafe water. Children, once often ill from diarrhoea or typhoid, began to regain their strength. For the first time, access to water became reliable and safe.
Annet Kasukya noticed the difference almost immediately. “You don’t see people vomiting or suffering from diarrhoea anymore. “The village is so clean now,” she said.
Before the intervention, water samples from Lake Victoria showed high contamination levels, confirming how risky the old system had been. After the project, improved sources like boreholes and piped water reduced this risk to a huge level.
With fewer illnesses, families are no longer forced to spend their limited income on medical treatment. Annet can afford the 100 shillings for 20 litres. “It’s not too much, and it’s always there, even at night,” she says.
Education, too, has seen an impact. Teachers report that school attendance has nearly doubled since the water ATMs were introduced. Children are healthier, and parents no longer keep them at home due to sickness or the burden of fetching water.
In just two years:
- Diarrhoea cases dropped by 45% overall
- Among children under five, cases fell by 65%
- Access to improved water supply reached nearly 90% across the Buikwe District
This isn’t just about drinking water sources; it’s about creating a cycle of wellness that feeds into better education, stronger families, and long-term economic growth.
Conclusion: A Model for the Future
The story of Bugoba is a powerful reminder that access to clean water is not just about quenching thirst. It's about restoring dignity, improving health, and education. What once felt like an impossible dream for families like Annet Kasukya’s is now a reality. Thanks to the partnership between the Buikwe District, Water Mission Uganda, Grundfos, and the government of Iceland, a once-struggling community has been given the tools to grow.
The importance of access to water that is safe and affordable cannot be overstated. Instead of depending on unsafe water and other contaminated water sources, people of Bugoba now have access to improved sources that are both sustainable and reliable. Bugoba’s transformation is also a story of economic and social resilience.
The shift from polluted drinking water sources to a secure, improved water source has brought real and lasting change. The quality and safety of domestic water is no longer a constant worry for families. Water samples are regularly tested now for clean water. In contrast to unsafe alternative water sources, the solar-powered AQtap system stands out as a dependable water treatment solution that combines technology with simplicity.
This is what progress looks like when communities are empowered, and systems are built to last. Bugoba is no longer surviving. It is beginning to grow. With continued support and sustainable infrastructure, such as solar-powered pumps, boreholes, and smart monitoring systems, this success can be replicated in other villages across Uganda and beyond.
By focusing on the quality of water, sustainability, and local ownership, the Bugoba model opens a clear path forward in the global fight against water scarcity and disease. The road ahead still has challenges, but the people of Bugoba have already proven what’s possible when innovation, community effort, and purpose come together. They no longer walk miles for clean drinking water; they walk into a healthier, more hopeful future.
