Kisoro Hospital Rain Water Harvesting Project

About Kisoro Hospital:

Kisoro Hospital is a district hospital serving a population of over 500,000 people annually. The patients that come to this Hospital come from Kisoro District, the neighboring border countries of DRC and Rwanda, and from Nyakabande refugee camp that receives about 50 refugees daily. 

The Need:

Kisoro Hospital has a huge water bill of 5,000,000 UGX ($1380) per month, which consumes almost 40% of the Hospital's Administration budget.

The Solution:

This campaign is to raise funds that will be used to establish a comprehensive rainwater harvesting structure that is anticipated to cut the water bill by 70%. 

The Implementation Plan:

Water Engineers, Nyiraneza Dorothy, and Mberwa Cranmer have designed a 3 phased plan

 Phase 1:

Renovate 2 existing tanks (one underground dilapidated tank with a capacity of 70,000L, and another ferro-cement tank with a capacity of 40,000L ) constructed in the early ‘80s. These tanks are cracked, no longer holds any water, and the little that tries to get in disappears into the ground.  The gutters got old and can no longer take water into the tank. 

Phase 2:

Construct two, 40,000L ferro-cement tanks on the high ground, harvesting from the stores' structures, and distributed by gravity to the wards.

Phase 3:

Establish a harvesting system from the Outpatient department structures, and construct a 100,000L underground tank, with a pumping system to the main tank.

Cost:

The Project is estimated to cost 100 million Uganda Shillings (Around $28,000)

Project's Progress:

Following approval by the hospital management committee, and the district council, and shared with the district MPs, a volunteer committee was chosen by members to spearhead the cause: -

1.      Chairperson- His Worship the Mayor, Ndyana Richard

2.      Vice-Chair- Mr. Panda Robert- Businessman

3.      Secretary- Hon. Mutezinka Judith District Councilor, Southern division

4.      Vice Secretary- Akankwasa Benjamin-Ag. Hospital Admin

5.      Treasurer- Hon. Mbonigaba Augustine, Councillor Central division

6.      Vice Treasurer- Mr. Musominali Sam- Senior Clinical Officer/Kisoro Hospital

7.       Chief Mobiliser: Mr. Ndikuyeze Ramathan- Chairman Central Division Technical Committee

An event to launch the fundraising initiatives of this project was done on 02/21/2019, with Dr. Philemon Mateke, as the chief guest. That day, 14 million UGX ($3,856) was raised in cash and pledges.

The next main event will be a Marathon that is scheduled to take place on 04/20/2019.  The Marathon will be in Kisoro Municipality and the Chief Guest will be the Vice-President of Uganda, Hon.Dr. Edward Sekandi.

As you can tell, the success of this project will require combined efforts.  As a born of Kisoro who has used this Hospital so many times, I felt compelled to not only contribute but to also create a platform that will give an opportunity for all the well-wishers to contribute towards the same. Any contribution is highly appreciated.