GSWI visit report to Uganda

A 4 week visit took place in Uganda in order to assess a number existing solar pumping schemes, evaluate the feasibility to solarize new water points in refugee settlements and raise awareness and solar technical expertise among WASH stakeholders in the country.

12 refugee settlements were visited in 5 different locations (Kyriandongo, Adjumani, Moyo, Yumbe and Arua). Selection of visited sites was made in function of presence of solar schemes or high yielding boreholes not solarized.

In total 48 high yielding boreholes were assessed, with 16 already solarized at the moment of the visit (all but 3 in the older settlements of Kyriandongo, Adjumani and Arua), 25 yet to be equipped and 7 for which there were not enough data available to make any study. The lack of a working centralized data management system for water points represented a major challenge for the visit. Therefore there might be more boreholes (both solarized and high yielding not mechanized) within the areas visited. However it is believed that the conclusions of current report could apply to all high yielding boreholes of the 5 areas.

Climatological and hydrogeological conditions in all areas visited were favorable, making the use of solar pumping a technically feasible solution for each and every of the boreholes assessed.

Decreasing trend of solar product prices, no taxation of imported solar panels, technical expertise available at private sector level in Kampala, inclusion of Uganda Water Ministry and UNHCR of solar pumping in their strategic plans/ policy frameworks and the wider support and priorization given by World Bank and other donors to solar solutions in Uganda make the context ideal to mainstream the use of solar pumping in the areas visited and beyond.

The Solar Hub Team
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The Solar Hub Team
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