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Busoga BugleAutumn 2023
2From the EditorNot all great advances in human civilization are expensive. The brilliant achievement of the rst moon landing in 1968 cost the USA many billions of dollars and was the work of teams of scientists and astronauts. But sixty years later came the greatest advance in the history of rural defecation, namely the Satopan. It costs 5,000 Ugandan shillings (c. £1.10) and was the invention of one man, Jim McHale. You, like me, may have never heard of Mr McHale, nor his Satopan. But for millions of rural people it is transforming their lives. From the dawn of time the rural latrine was a fulcrum of disease and smells, a pit with a hole into which human faeces were deposited.They were there enjoyed by ies and cockroaches which then felt free to share their diseases with humanity. But now, having entered the pit through the Satopan, ies, cockroaches and malodorous smells are then buried forever. HUIS CLOS! NO EXIT! At a pan, the rural compound, from being the matrix of disease is transformed into a salubrious haven where children can safely play and adults calmly relax in sweet fresh air, each one under their matoke plant and their mango tree and “no disease shall make them afraid!” (Micah Ch4. vs4) It wasn’t so long ago, of course, that the streets of London were so deep in faeces that ladies had to wear “pattens”, raised wooden shoes, in order to navigate their way safely through the streets.“Pad’s Off!” Pupils celebrating following an MHM pad-making workshop.
3But, dear reader, BT is simultaneously achieving another great breakthrough as we speak! Rural hand pumped water has never been adequately maintained - until now! Just when the “international community” is giving up on hand pumped water because, they say, rural people are incapable of maintaining their hand pumped borehole, BT is proving that they can! How is this possible? The answer is simple. Inexcusably, 90% of hand pumped boreholes in Uganda, after being well drilled, have then been tted with mostly galvanised iron (GI) and in some cases plastic parts. Yet, BT knew from our beginning in 1984 that GI will rust in one or two years in Uganda’s aggressive waters and that plastic will break soon enough. BT has never used galvanised iron for our own projects. So these poor rural people never had a chance because the constant need to repair their borehole due to corrosion became too expensive for them to maintain and destroyed their collective morale. We, however, have solid evidence that stainless steel will not rust! Yes, it does cost more initially, but is not as costly as the sickness and death caused because of GI. And it lasts indenitely! So little BT is now proving, through our PBR maintenance programme, that local rural people can make monthly savings, which can pay for the relatively inexpensive repairs these stainless steel boreholes will need. Yes, it’s happening! BT has made a “big push” since April 2023, re-sensitising all the 1,250 communities with such rehabilitated boreholes. 98.6% of them are currently functional. The PBR is not yet fully established everywhere, but BT is getting there. Also, we now employ 54 maintenance technicians (WSPs) to cover all the areas where there are rehabilitated boreholes. These technicians are telling us how much better is the performance of our stainless steel boreholes and they can be called out in a few hours to do repairs. It is our plan to have our WASHBET programme professionally evaluated in due course. We have a terric story to tell and it’s a story that needs to be told! Just as the Roman Empire once “comprehended the fairest part of the earth and the most civilised portion of mankind” (Edward Gibbon), so BT’s WASHBET ‘empire’ “comprehends some of the best watered parts of rural Uganda and the most sanitary portion of its inhabitants”.
Every water source BT rehabilitates is part of our WASHBET programme (water, sanitation, hygiene, bees and trees) and is enrolled onto our “PBR” programme of sustainable maintenance.The Wonderful World of WASHBETWaterSince April 2020, BT has rehabilitated over 1250 water sources, that’s one per day! Many of the water sources our teams come across were tted with poor quality galvanised iron parts, which rust in Uganda’s aggressive waters. BT replaces rusted parts with best quality stainless steel and brings back safe, clean water to communities who had been so let down. Alongside each rehab, the BT social teams work with communities to improve their sanitation, from improving latrines with Satopans (full story on P8), to constructing handwashing facilities and dish racks. This is a vital constituent. SanitationHygieneA major triumph of “WASHBET” has been our Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) programme. Our teams work with girls and boys(!) teaching them to make re-useable pads and breaking down taboos. 4
5BeesTreesWe provide communities with fruit trees at very subsidised prices. Currently, as part of WASHBET, communities are planting approximately 5,000 trees a month! 2023 has been a year of major breakthroughs. Not only has the Satopan established itself as transformative for the domestic compound, this year has seen BT’s ‘PBR savings for borehole maintenance’ programme take off. Currently BT now has 196 million UGX banked savings for 1181 borehole communities averaging 166,000 UGX per community. We also now employ 54 on call WSPs or maintenance mechanics, whose job is to respond quickly to any borehole problem. The spare parts usually needed cost between 5,000 UGX AND 50,000 UGX each and so are easily affordable from the communities’ current savings. BT now also has the technical capacity to reconnect or rethread any parted pipes or rods with our own tools at just a modest cost, well within their savings envelope. Our technicians can also do any necessary “shing” of parts out of boreholes. Furthermore, each WSP has their ‘concession’ of approximately 20 boreholes for which they are responsible, a manageable number. To build condence, each community has the free mobile number to be able to ring the bank in Jinja and obtain the bank’s assurance how much money is saved in their name in the bank.The PBR proves it’s worthCurrently, BT is selling about 50 beehives per month at a subsidised price of £2 each. Recently, in Kayunga, beekeepers have come together in a consortium of about 20 each. This is to support each other in training and best practice as well as to strenghthen the security of their hives (luckily no bears!) and secure effective marketing of their delicious honey. It will also be good to see the environmental impact of more bees.
62. Meet Umaru and Nerisa . Not only are BT’s volunteers accomplished, youthful, energetic and hardworking, but they are also good looking! As beautiful as the trees which they are delivering and helping people to plant are the smiles and bonhomie which Umaru and Nerisa exude. No wonder they meet many favourable responses and people eager to avail themselves of not only their happy presence, but also their useful commodities. BT’s Battalion of VolunteersRural development is labour intensive because it is all about motivating and inspiring rural people to achieve behavioural change. BT is much blessed by a battalion of 25 young volunteers who offer to work for BT so as to gain experience in rural development. This is despite the fact that BT can only offer them board and lodging and a modest monthly cash payment. Yet they work all the hours God gives and then some! For example:1. Meet Swaga Abasa (red shirt) Swaga is a student at Kampala University doing a BA degree in social work. With BT he has shown real ability in mobilising groups of about 40 people and sensitising them in sanitation and hygiene. He has great commitment and passion.
73. Also meet Emmanuel. Another volunteer who excels in communicating the PBR programme:Through the valleys and hills, he rocks the Mpigi communities.Unstoppable by bad weather; not even time can catch-up with him!Just as the name Emmanuel states, “God is with Us”, his presence blesses the people of Mpigi.With honesty, he accounts for every coin collected!Working closely with the WSPs and the WUCs, Mpigi project blossoms in PBR.Serving with exibility, compassion and dedication; that’s Emmanuel!4. Meet Andrew Pearson Junior (baptised in 1997 by an unsuspecting ED Andrew Pearson Senior). He was happy to see the excitement of 9 year old Aisha. She lives in Bugweri, staying with her grandmother and her three siblings. For ages she has suffered the scary nightmare of setting off in the dark each morning to fetch water from a long distance with her siblings. This meant that they were always late for school and their academic performance suffered badly. But then BT came and restored their borehole, giving them safe water! Aisha is thrilled that now she can be a real scholar and show her true ability, with no more scary long walks in the early morning dark! AP junior has himself got a degree in development studies and is now working very hard for BT. He says he loves the work, especially engaging with the people in the village communities, people like grateful little Aisha.
8The Greatest Invention in the History of Rural Defecation Transforms Life in Rural UgandaNone of us witnessed the moment when our ancestors rst made re, such a breakthrough moment for cooking, heating and lighting! Nor can we claim to have seen the rst revolutionary invention for transport, namely the wheel! But, readers, we in BT can claim to have been there and seen the amazing discovery of the Satopan! At £1 per time, the “Sato” is turning rural defecation from a major health hazard into a safe and routine pleasure. All thanks to Jim McHale who invented it in 2018. The simple Satopan may be just one small step for man, but it is indeed a giant leap for mankind! What a difference the Satopan has made to Josephine’s life. Her old latrine harboured bacteria causing Josephine constant urinary tract infections (UTIs) on which she had to spend much precious money for treatment. But now, says Josephine, “no more spending money on treating the UTIs! With our safe and clean Sato toilet, we are so much healthier! Thank you Busoga Trust for coming to help us!” Written by Edema Praise Jimmy(And Lydia would like to add that when Edema Praise Jimmy showed us a similar Sato toilet during our visit to Uganda he said “so when you come here and do your banana, it makes no smells, no ies and no contagion!”)NEWSFLASH! Research and DevelopmentLest BT be accused of a lack of intellectual curiosity, we have recently enabled the launch of a partnership between the University of Oxford and Jinja Senior Secondary School of around 4,000 pupils to develop Quantum Physics. We look forward to the impact this will have on rural development!
9Meet Sam, aged 7, who is water carrier, garden digger, house and latrine builder for his family of six. With Mum disabled, Dad missing, and sisters even younger, little Sam has stepped up as the family patriarch. BT rst met Sam when the team rehabilitated a nearby borehole. He was struggling to carry water home, using a cronky, broken bike. BT gave Sam a decent bike to carry his jerry Sam the 7 year old Patriachcans. Then when his home collapsed into a pile of rubble, Luwero Manager Ronald slept rough for two weeks and helped Sam build a new house and a swanky Satopan latrine. It was great to meet Sam again this year. He enjoyed getting behind the Land Rover wheel and tasting a few sweeties we brought. Sam is someone who doesn’t know the meaning of the word “can’t”.Another Day, Another Borehole Rehab!Community members of Namalogwe village celebrate their new borehole which was non-functional for 2 years.
In the SpotlightRonnie - “The Organiser”Madaba Ronald is known for his quick response whenever called upon. Whether it’s organising a party or spending several nights in the eld for Sam’s house to be constructed (P9), he will. He will do it and deliver promptly and with love. Send him to head a project and he won’t let you down. You can always rely on Ronald to do a great job, however difcult. That is the spirit we need in Busoga Trust. Hussein - “The Problem Solver”Hussein has been a great asset to BT for over 20 years. When BT has a problem, Hussein nds the solution. Like the time BT had a crisis with brass cylinders. It was Hussein who boldly took the initiative to nd a stainless steel cylinder which he proved would work perfectly with our Consallen Pump. As a faithful Muslim, he takes Ramadan seriously, yet he even comes on Sundays to hear the ED preach! Edison - “The Man of Mystery”A bit like the “Scarlet Pimpernel”, Edison can quickly disappear, yet he is one of the stars in BT’s technical rmament. His work is always excellent technically and he also has the gift and patience to work well with the local people and take them with him. Now Edison is branching out into trees! He is a strong advocate of WASHBET. BT is blessed to have a wonderful, hardworking and dedicated team in Uganda. This Bugle we would like to celebrate Ronnie, Hussein, Edison, John Bosco and Winnie for their exceptional service.10
11Winnie - “The Good Samaritan”In a world characterized by self-interest, Winnie emerges as a shining example of seless service, a dedicated servant of Busoga Trust and the communities of Mpigi. She has devoted her life to making a positive impact on the lives of those around her. Her genuine care and concern create a sense of belonging not only to her workmates but also to the communities in which she operates.Tirelessly working with her smiley face, Winnie always dedicates her time and energy to uplift others without seeking recognition or reward!John Bosco - BT’s “Financial Wizard”For the 17 years from 2006, Bosco has been BT’s nancial hotshot and every year we have been given a clean bill of nancial health. This is no small achievement, for BT is working in 10 districts from 5 seperate ofces and has had to account also to some major donors. All our accounts are twice audited, rst in Uganda, and then in the UK. We can thank Bosco for his uncompromising integrity, a fruit of his staunch Catholic faith, a strong work ethic, and for the high standards he demands from our nancial staff. Donors can know that, with BT, they get exceptional value for money, thanks to Bosco!Every Friday morning about 40 BT Jinja staff and also those working in Luwero come together for teaching, for prayer and for fellowship. It is a diverse group, yet united in a common purpose. One regular is Burungi Amina, who is a volunteer CDO and a Muslim. Amina writes: “The message touches many hearts, giving us strength for the challenges of life. It inspires us to go the extra mile to reach out to others and bring comfort and aid to the homeless, the sick, and all who have lost hope in life. The meeting nishes cheerfully with a breakfast of pilau rice before we go off to work”. Friday Fellowship
Many of our donors have been giving to BT for decades. It means SO much when people give such encouraging and faithful support, thank you again! THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS!We appreciate every gift, no matter how large or small. Your donations can provide: £2,500 Major Rehabilitation of a Borehole £3,500 New Shallow Well £1,500 Major Rehabilitation of a Shallow Well £800 Minor Rehabilitation of a Shallow Well £1,000 Purchase of 2,500 Fruit Tree SeedlingsAll rehabilitations and new wells come with the full “WASHBET” package (P4)DONATE TODAYBecome a regular - Our regular donors are invaluable. They share our vision of the world as one community and share what they have with those in need. You can too by arrangement a regular standing order with your bank, or my following the link on our website.Online via our website - www.busogatrust.co.ukBank transfer - The Busoga Trust, Sort Code: 60-07-29, Account Number: 39810399Cheque - payable to “The Busoga Trust” and sent to our address below.CONTACTEmail: ukhq@busogatrust.co.uk Website: www.busogatrust.co.ukAddress: The Busoga Trust, 82 St John Street, London, EC1M 4JNRegistered Charity Number: 288388