Just a Drop is proud to partner with Watercoolers Europe, the non-profit umbrella federation representing the European water dispenser industry, covering both bottled water coolers and plumbed-in (point-of-use/POU) systems.
Through their October 2026 Conference, they will be supporting our Kapelebyong Borehole Rehabilitation project in Uganda.
Project Context
The Kapelebyong Area of North Eastern Uganda is an area that is still recovering from the Ugandan Civil War.
For around sixty years, thousands of Ugandans in the area lived in IDP camps after being forcibly displaced from their homes during the civil war. As the humanitarian crisis unfolded, boreholes were quickly drilled to give people access to an immediate water supply.
In the 2000s, the situation changed, and communities in the area were able to settle and start to rebuild, but they have still faced several challenges. The boreholes that had been drilled were not maintained, and this, combined with poor weather patterns, scarcity of water and sanitation facilities, poor infrastructure, poor land management, and poor agricultural systems, left the communities in a state of extreme poverty.
The Project
Through fundraising at the October Conference, Watercoolers Europe can help Just a Drop to work in three villages across Kapelebyong to change this situation for 3,161 people. Each village has a borehole that is no longer working. Some of these boreholes have water available, but because the pipes are corroded, they can release harmful metals and other contaminants into the water, creating potential health risks for community members, including urinary tract infections, skin irritations, and rashes. The problem is particularly bad for children under five.
Community members either risk their health and drink this water, face a long queue at another borehole further away to collect water, or drink dirty water from a seasonal hand-dug pond.
In this project, we will work in the three communities below:
- Apopong Community Borehole: 896 people across 204 households
- Apopopong Primary School Borehole: 1315 people – 240 people in the local community and 1075 students at the school
- Anyangareng Community Borehole: 950 people across 140 households
To address these issues, we will start by carrying out a technical assessment in the communities and then establish the best means of repair for each borehole. This assessment includes dismantling the borehole, removing all pipes and disinfecting them, and a pumping test to establish the water yield. We then conduct water sampling and quality analysis before installing stainless steel pipes and rods, and a hand pump with a pedestal, water tank, pump head, and cylinder. We will also construct a borehole platform with a drainage channel and a soakaway pit.
The Impact
The impact of this work will be clear as soon as the project finishes:
- 3,161 community members across three villages in Kapelebyong will have access to safe, clean water for years to come.
- The fixed boreholes will provide water for drinking, cleaning, cooking, and watering crops, preventing the need to walk for water.
- People will be healthier as they no longer have to drink dirty water; there will be a decrease in illness and diseases associated with drinking poor-quality water.
- Time queuing at boreholes is reduced for both the communities in the projects and the surrounding communities who also rely on these limited boreholes.
- Time previously spent collecting water, being sick, or caring for the sick can be spent working, going to school, and building strong livelihoods and moving out of poverty.
- Improved hygiene practices among community members.
- There will be improved conditions in the villages, promoting long-term health through access to clean water and hygiene and sanitation knowledge.
- The borehole maintenance training increases the project impact and lifespan.
- WASH training leads to entrenched hygiene practices for generations to come.
Overall, this project will transform the lives of thousands of people across Uganda for years to come.