UNICEF drills two boreholes to provide clean and safe water for Sudanese refugees in Kiryandongo

 This was made possible with funding from the European Union Humanitarian Aid

As Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement continues to face challenges of limited water supply due to increased new arrivals of Sudanese refugees, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has with funding from the European Union Humanitarian Aid financed the drilling and motorization of two more boreholes to provide clean and safe water to save lives.

UNICEF with European Union Humanitarian Aid commissioned a water supply feasibility study with the aim of exploring long term adequate and sustainable water supply options to address a 20-year water demand for Kiryandongo area.

One of the expected recommendations from the study was to drill four high yielding boreholes with an aim to increase access to adequate clean and safe water supply to save lives as an immediate response.

However, out of the four newly drilled high yielding boreholes, only two boreholes (in cluster A and G) were found to have water supply of the quality suitable for use by the refugees and host communities in Kiryandongo settlement and the motorization of the boreholes using solar power begun end May 2025. solar power.

On completion, the motorized boreholes will provide an additional approximately 42M³/Hr. (a total of about 288M³ of clean water per day - including - six hours. pumping with diesel-generator power) which is expected to improve the water supply service levels to at least 14 -15 litres per day, up from the current 9.1 litres per person per day. The water supply per person per day dropped from 16 litres in 2023 to nine litres in 2024, which is far below the recommended International Humanitarian Standard of 20 litres per person per day. 

UNICEFUganda/2025

This latest humanitarian intervention by UNICEF aims at improving access to adequate and equitable safe water supply for some of the 85,004 Sudanese refugees registered in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement Cluster A and G and nearby host communities.

The settlement is currently hosting a total of 150,723 refugees in clusters G, L, B, A and the figures continue to rise, according to the Commandant Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Mr. Emmanuel Turyagenda. The new boreholes will supply water to the most vulnerable existing refugees, host communities and the Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) living in the neighbouring areas.

The development of the two water systems will contribute to the urgently needed water supply infrastructure, in line with the Interagency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) plan developed jointly with WASH actors active in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement under the leadership of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), and the proactive participation of UNICEF.

In the same WASH plan, UNHCR has planned to develop another water supply system from a surface water source within Kiryandongo area to further increase access to safe water supply for the refugees and host community. 

Each borehole funded drilled and constructed by UNICEF with European Union Humanitarian Aid funding will constitute a solar powered water supply system, complete with an electric multistage centrifugal submersible borehole pump, a solar power system with mono crystalline PV Solar panels, PV solar panel support structure for mounting solar panels and electrical accessories.

A 22Kv diesel-powered generator will also be installed to provide backup power for the daylight pumping hours. These two water systems will have transmission pipelines (HDPE pipe OD 75mm PN 16), that will carry water from the boreholes to the reservoir tanks and water supply distribution networks each with about 14 tap stands per system.

Mr Paul Semakula, a WASH specialist based at the UNICEF Zonal Office in Arua, said that this additional water infrastructure to be developed in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, will improve access to safe and reliable (un-interrupted) water supply service levels of at least 14-15 litres per person per day to at least 21,000 refugees in Cluster A and Cluster G hence significantly reducing or eliminating the need for water trucking in Cluster A. Secondly the distribution tap stands in the cluster will ensure girls and women will not have to move long distances to access safe water.     

Made in Uganda: Deputy Speaker Tayebwa Hands Over Kayoola EVS 2025 Model Bus To Uganda Civil Aviation Authority

 Uganda’s automotive industry flagship Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC)  has  handed over the Kayoola EVS 2025 model – 12 –meter bus to the management of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCCAA.)

This event marked an electrifying moment for Uganda, igniting a new era in the country’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) journey. At the grand closing ceremony of the National Science Week 2025 held under the theme “Made in Uganda: From Innovation to Market,” Kiira Motors Corporation has once again unleashed a powerful symbol of African ingenuity and unwavering commitment to a sustainable future.

The Kayoola EVS 2025, a masterpiece from Uganda’s automakers, stands as a resounding testament to Uganda’s burgeoning capability to design, engineer, and produce world-class electric vehicles. The vehicle is a meticulously crafted solution tailored for the vibrant rhythm of African cities.

The handover ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the national parliament , Mr. Thomas Tayebwa ,who presented the keys of the fully electric bus to the UCAA Director General, Mr. Fred K. Bamwesigye . This was at the closing of a week-long National Science Week organized by the Ministry of Science ,Technology and Innovation (MoSTI) at Kololo Independence grounds.

The colourful function was witnessed by Dr. Monica Musenero the  Minister STI  and Mr. Paul Isaac Musasizi , the CEO of Kiira Motors Corporation .

In his prepared speech Deputy Speaker Tayebwa noted that the Kayoola EVS 2025 was a moving declaration of innovation, resilience, and the sheer power of homegrown solutions. He commended KMC for its milestone achievements, noting that Uganda is firmly on the path of self-driven innovation.
“It is time to believe in our own. What we are importing from abroad is not even comparable. These are home-grown solutions, built by our own people, for our own needs,” Tayebwa stated.

“The official handover of a Kayoola EVS 2025 unit to the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) signifies the seamless integration of green mobility into Uganda’s critical aviation infrastructure, solidifying our pledge to drastically reduce carbon emissions and elevate service delivery at our nation’s vital gateways.

 Furthermore, this handover embodies the crucial confidence public institutions are placing in our high-tech, domestically produced innovations, a vital step in cultivating a robust local market for electric vehicles and propelling the technological advancements essential for our economic transformation,” he said .

For the Global South, Tayebwa noted , this momentous occasion reverberates far beyond Uganda’s borders. “ It unequivocally affirms that the African continent is not merely a consumer of imported technologies but a dynamic creator of high-tech, transformative solutions. The Kayoola EVS 2025 epitomizes the aspirations of a continent steadfast in its resolve to leapfrog into a cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive future for all,” he added.

He went further to state ; “As we celebrate this monumental milestone, we powerfully reaffirm our unwavering commitment by the government under the visionary leadership of  President Yoweri Museveni, to investing in Science Technology and Innovation as the undeniable driver of Uganda’s socio- economic transformation.

While receiving the well branded elegant bus , UCAA Director General Bamwesigye thanked the government of Uganda for funding the electric vehicles programme.

“We are particularly thankful to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation for its unwavering support and guidance in advancing e-mobility and nurturing Uganda’s indigenous motor vehicle industry,” he said .

Bamwesigye recalled that in 2020, UCAA was approached by Kiira Motors Corporation (KMC) to pilot the Kayoola EVS—Low-Floor Electric Bus—by facilitating the transportation of  its staff between Kampala and Entebbe International Airport.

“We embraced this opportunity, and five years later, we have never looked back. Today, we are proud to receive the first of our fleet of six electric buses, having fully embraced this transformative innovation,” the DG said adding that this new concept aligned seamlessly with UCAA core value of embracing innovation and technology in a rapidly evolving environment.

“ It was especially significant that the buses are environmentally friendly—powered by electricity, eliminating diesel use and its associated pollution. The Kayoola EVS also supports our commitment to climate and environmental protection, in line with the Long-Term Aspirational Goal (LTAG) of achieving net-zero aviation carbon emissions by 2050,” he stated.

Tayebwa also handed over certificates of competence to UCAA’s electric bus operators

Bamwesigye said that as Ugandans  reflect on the transformative journey of strategic investment in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) as a key driver of the country’s projected tenfold economic expansion by 2040, UCAA reaffirms its support and commitment to KMC’s e-mobility innovations. We wholeheartedly embrace the theme of this Science Week: “Made in Uganda: From Innovation to Market.”

In alignment with the government of Uganda’s Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy, Bamwesigye said that UCAA has undertaken the replacement of its ageing diesel fleet with six electric buses manufactured by Kiira Motors Corporation.

“The shift from diesel-powered vehicles to electric mobility is a significant step toward enhanced environmental sustainability and reduced pollution,” he noted .

KMC Chief Executive Officer, Paul Isaac Musasizi, expressed optimism about the potential impact of the new electric bus model: “We are optimistic that the introduction of this new model will create significant opportunities—not just for commuters, but also for transport entrepreneurs because the vehicle supports a more sustainable and profitable business model, thanks to its use of affordable energy. Compared to fuel-powered vehicles, users save over 78% in energy costs and more than 46% in annual maintenance expenses. This electric bus is not only a smart mobility solution, but a smart economic one as well.”

About this new Kayoola 2025- 12-meter model

 The fully electric bus has a range of up to 350 kilometers on a single charge , a spacious 56-seated passenger capacity, and a suite of modern amenities including Wi-Fi, HVAC, USB-charging ports, ECAS, CCTV, and an inclusive design ensuring comfort and accessibility for all.

Editor:msserwanga@gmail.com