Uganda – The Semliki River flows on the border between Uganda and DR Congo. Around the river there is a huge plain that floods during the rainy season. It is a complex zone with the important task of absorbing the effects of climate change by providing a buffer from floodwaters.
In the dry season, there is a major shortage of water because there is almost no infrastructure to get water from the river to the fields or to the population.In addition, many cows graze in the plains, and when they go to drink at the river, they trample the banks.
This leads to erosion, causing a lot of mud to end up in the river, which in turn has a negative effect on the water quality.
The experts
Join For Water works with our partner NRDI in the Semliki plain. Together with the residents and authorized staff of the local government, a plan was drawn up to better manage some vulnerable zones in the plain. This includes building a solar-powered irrigation system in the Kayanja village so that people can grow vegetables even in the dry season.
A drinking basin is provided for the cattle, so that the cows no longer have to drink in the river. A technical team of engineers has carried out studies and supervised the infrastructure works.
Water for agriculture and livestock
The whole installation consists of a solar-powered pump that pumps water into a reservoir to create a water tower. Water from the reservoir can then be used to fill the drinking basin for livestock and to irrigate the surrounding fields.
Original text: Benon Bwalhuma, NRDI
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Pictures below (c) Kim Vercruysse and NRDI