Teso Honey Refinery Rainwater Catchment Project – Uganda

Location
Soroti Town, Soroti District, Teso Sub-region, Eastern Uganda

Community Description
Soroti is the largest city in the Teso sub-region of Uganda. The population is about 50,000 people, and agriculture is the main economic activity.

Some place Soroti in eastern Uganda, but the Teso culture has more in common with northern, Nilotic tribes than southern Bantu tribes. After President Museveni came to power in 1986, the Iteso failed to recognize his leadership and were attacked by the Ugandan government.

While it is peaceful in Teso now, the region still lacks adequate government funding for roads, schools and other infrastructure. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) came to Teso. The Iteso fought back, and the LRA did not stay long. Because they caused less damage in Teso than in the neighboring Lango and Acholi regions, Teso has received little outside funding for rehabilitation. Many of the development projects in Teso are run by the Iteso, who are committed to helping “their people.”

The Teso Honey Refinery is a community organization in Soroti Town that buys honey and wax from community members and processes it for sale. The refinery is centrally located and is staffed by community honey farmers. The grounds are also a demonstration farm, where new agriculture practices are shown.

The property currently does not have direct access to water. Water must be hauled to the site in jerry cans from a neighboring water source.

Project Description
This project is to install a rainwater collection system to assist in the operations of the refinery as well as for crop irrigation.

A 3,000-liter plastic water storage tank and valve will be purchased and installed. Gutters will be placed on two sides of the honey refinery building along the roof line. Rainwater will be directed into the tanks through plastic piping.

The refinery and farm staff will assist in the installation process and provide for the transportation of goods to the site.

Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the gutters, tank, and tap from local suppliers.

Project Impact
Over 1,800 people will benefit from the project including individual honey farmers who sell their honey and wax to the refinery, volunteer refinery staff, farm staff members who live on the premises, refinery staff, volunteers, and community development officers (CDOs). In addition, 5,000+ community members who are trained by the CDOs will indirectly benefit.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Joanna Groepper

Comments
The ability to collect rain water on the site will ease the daily operations at the refinery, allow the demonstration farm to demonstrate crop irrigation, and provide for the household water needs of the farm staff.

Dollar Amount of Project
$550.00

Donations Collected to Date
$555.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been funded through the generosity of the Paul Bechtner Foundation.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Joanna Groepper of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Joanna and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.