About this project
Access to clean and safe drinking water remains one of the most critical challenges facing rural and remote communities around the world. In the highland and hilly regions where over 6,000 households reside, the lack of a sustainable water supply system has significantly impacted public health, education, economic development, and overall quality of life. The Highland Hydration Project: From Lake to Lives is a transformative infrastructure initiative aimed at addressing this urgent need by delivering clean water directly from a nearby lake to these underserved communities.
This project proposes the design, installation, and operation of a solar-powered water pumping and distribution system that draws water from the lake, treats it to meet national and WHO drinking water standards, and delivers it through a network of pipes and storage tanks to households located in elevated and remote areas. The system will include intake structures, filtration and purification stations, high-capacity pumps, elevated storage reservoirs, and strategically placed tap stands to ensure equitable access across all villages.
A major component of the project is sustainability. By incorporating renewable energy solutions such as solar power for pumping, and gravity-fed systems for distribution where feasible, the project minimizes operational costs and environmental impact. Local materials will be used where possible, and community labor will be engaged to create ownership, build skills, and generate employment during the construction phase.
Health and sanitation outcomes are central to the project’s goals. Access to clean water will reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery—especially among children and the elderly. Furthermore, the project will directly contribute to improved hygiene, food preparation, and school attendance (particularly among girls, who often spend hours collecting water from distant sources).
To ensure long-term impact, the Highland Hydration Project will include a community training and capacity-building program. Local water committees will be formed and trained in system maintenance, financial management (for user fees or community contributions), and water conservation practices. Additionally, partnerships with local government, NGOs, and health institutions will provide support for technical audits, health education, and expansion of water access in the future.
The project will be implemented in three phases: planning and community consultation, infrastructure development, and operationalization and monitoring. Each phase will include clear milestones, environmental and social impact assessments, and gender inclusion strategies to ensure all community members benefit.
Ultimately, From Lake to Lives is more than a water project—it is a lifeline for thousands of people living in hard-to-reach areas. By delivering clean, reliable, and sustainable water to over 6,000 homes, this project will elevate health, dignity, productivity, and resilience for generations to come. It aligns with national development priorities and Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), serving as a model for similar initiatives in other rural and highland regions.
Goals and Objectives
The Highland Hydration Project: From Lake to Lives aims to ensure equitable access to clean and safe water for over 6,000 households living in mountainous and remote regions. Its primary goal is to improve public health, enhance livelihoods, and reduce time and labor burdens caused by poor water access. Key objectives include:
• Constructing a sustainable water supply system that overcomes geographical challenges using lake water and solar-powered pumping.
• Reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases by providing treated water.
• Strengthening community capacity to manage and maintain the system for long-term use.
Intended Beneficiaries and Justification:
The intended beneficiaries are families living in highland communities with poor or no road access, making it difficult to transport water or access nearby health services. These communities were chosen due to:
• Their critical lack of clean water sources.
• The high burden of disease outbreaks like cholera and typhoid linked to unsafe water.
• The vulnerability of women and children, who often bear the burden of fetching water over long, unsafe distances.
Beneficiaries will gain through reliable, on-site access to clean water, which will save time, reduce health risks, support education (especially for girls), and improve food and hygiene practices.
Sustainability Plan:
The project will train local water committees in maintenance, financial management, and system repairs. A small community-managed water usage fee will be introduced to cover basic operational costs. Solar technology ensures low maintenance energy needs, and government partnerships will help oversee long-term governance and support.
Replication and Scaling Potential:
Given its modular design, solar energy use, and reliance on local materials, the project can be replicated in other remote or hilly regions with similar water challenges. It offers a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and community-driven solution adaptable to diverse terrains across the country and beyond.
Expected result
The Highland Hydration Project is designed to deliver clear, measurable, and sustainable impacts. The following expected results are aligned with the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) criteria and will be tracked through continuous monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
1. Specific and Measurable Results:
• Result 1: By the end of the 18-month implementation period, at least 6,000 households in the targeted highland communities will have daily access to safe and treated drinking water, pumped from the lake and delivered through a solar-powered distribution system.
• Result 2: A 50% reduction in reported cases of waterborne diseases (e.g., cholera, typhoid, diarrhea) will be achieved within 12 months of system operation, verified through local health center records and community surveys.
• Result 3: At least 85% of women and children in the community will report a decrease in time spent collecting water, saving an average of 2–3 hours per day, leading to improved school attendance and time for economic activities.
• Result 4: A total of 10 trained community water committees (one per cluster/zone) will be established, trained, and operational before project completion, with at least 50% women representation, ensuring local ownership and gender inclusion.
2. Achievable Results:
All targets are grounded in feasibility studies and community consultations. The use of solar-powered pumps, gravity-fed pipes where possible, and local construction labor makes the infrastructure technically and economically viable. Coordination with local authorities and health offices supports achievable health and governance targets.
3. Relevant Results:
These results directly address the core problems identified: poor water access, frequent disease outbreaks, and excessive time spent fetching water. The outcomes contribute to:
• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
4. Time-Bound Results:
• System design and procurement: Months 1–3
• Construction and installation: Months 4–12
• Testing and commissioning: Months 13–15
• Full operation and community monitoring: Months 16–18
Ongoing monitoring and post-project evaluations will continue for at least 12 months post-handover.
Monitoring Capacity:
A local monitoring and evaluation (M&E) team will be established, working with village leaders and health centers to collect data on water access, usage, and health outcomes. Periodic surveys and mobile-based data collection tools will track user satisfaction, water quality, and system performance. Regular audits and maintenance logs will ensure transparency and technical reliably.
This results framework ensures that the project delivers tangible, life-changing outcomes and provides a model for sustainable water access in other remote and mountainous regions.
About me / organisation
Matsiko Derek
My name is Derek Matsiko. 28 years from Uganda, I was raised with six siblings, due to domestic violence, everyone grew up on their own. My parents separated back in years leaving the rest of my siblings under my care. With help of some generous community members we managed to get free vegetables and sometimes work in their fields in exchange for food.
my mother returned to us and she kept me home being the eldest to keep working with her in the fields for money and for food to sustain the family, I escaped from home to streets due to domestic violence, I was feeding with street children and eating unhealthy food from the garbage yards, I developed terrible ulcers and stomach pains which still affect me in the present day.
I managed to persuade the head teacher at my local school to let me attend classes in return for working on in the school compound. The work I did at the school couldn’t cater for all the school requirements and fees, but with help of teachers and generous students that gave me books, clothing and food I managed to finish both ordinary and advanced level.
I scored good grades at my advanced level and I was awarded a scholarship from a UK based charity that pays school fees for vulnerable children in Uganda, Lesotho and Kenya (Rafiki Thabo Foundation), they facilitated my university where I studied a diploma in information technology. After diploma, I met Richard from UK, who had been helping children with poor backgrounds and orphans, we ran a project,
helped up to 100 children, these children had a place to call home, they had three meals a day, education and basic needs until Richard died of covid. Unfortunately, I had to return most of the children back to their relatives and some that had their family members, I found myself with 26 orphan children that had nowhere to go.
I managed these children with organizing musical events, became brand ambassador at Bunyonyi Safaris Resort, worked with G-TEEN THE NEXT GENERATION a project that provides career guidance and motivation to the young generation. I’ve volunteered in the community outreaches, and at Little Angels Uganda.