Safer Waters for Central Uganda

Many Western groups have come to Luwero, Uganda, and made great promises of help and change — never to return. Safe Water Nexus hopes to bring the aid that others have promised. “We are a religious organization — but what we really want to do is help them stand back up and move on with their lives,” says director Matt Chambers. Assessing water needs in hopes of creating safe water sources is among their priorities. At present, people walk several miles to reach the only accessible source, a contaminated bore hole. Safe Water Nexus also focuses on education and health.


Village boys carrying water home after a long trek to the local source

The organization is partnering with Gaba Community Church of Kampala, which heads an all-children village for orphans in Uganda. Through its partnership with the local church, Chambers says, Safe Water Nexus is developing a relationship of trust and commitment with the Luwero people. “We don’t want to make them look American. They’re Ugandan and have a rich, textured culture. We want them to look like them,” says Chambers.

Water source in Luwero. People will actually walk several miles one way to get this contaminated water - people, along with livestock will also use this source for bathing or going to the bathroom

Safe Water Nexus adopted Namasulu Primary School, which is home to fifty children. The school is a promising start, but it lacks supplies; poorer students often can’t even afford lunch. While visiting last February, Chambers saw a list of the school’s goals from 2007. Provide lunch and uniforms for students; add doors to classrooms; strengthen the crumbling foundation; finish the syllabus. The list continues.

By the time Chambers visited, the school had finished its syllabus of culturally relevant classes in English and Luganda. Safe Water Nexus plans to help the school attain the resources necessary to implement its syllabus. “We would love to help achieve that list for them. It seems very attainable,” he says. Safe Water Nexus is in the process of writing TV and radio shows to teach basic hygiene, family skills, and general education.