13th June 2019
The Mayega Water and Sanitation Project aims to provide piped water, sanitation facilities and associated training in Mayega village (population is 2,500). The project is planned and co-ordinated by the Mayega Water and Sanitation Group (MWSG). The MWSG includes Mayega villagers, Busega District Council officials, the Head Teacher of Mayega Primary School and Busega Scotland representatives.
The Project, since 2017, has provided the village with a reliable piped water supply, in a scheme maintained by Busega District Council through the local Community Owned Water Supply Organisation (COWSO). Water is available at ten water distribution points (DPs) that are spread across seven sub villages and at the primary school, dispensary and Mayega Children’s Centre. COWSOs at sub village level are responsible for the DPs; collecting and managing payments for the water from families and DP maintenance.
The overall objectives of the Mayega Water Project are improved personal hygiene behaviour, domestic and environmental sanitation; improved access to a plentiful and quality water supply and sanitation facilities; enhanced community capacity to manage, operate and maintain water supply and sanitation facilities and strengthened organizational capacity to implement water, sanitation and hygiene projects.
The next phase of the project is in its planning stage and, if funding is agreed, will comprise of:
Constructing male and female toilets at Mayega Primary School, that has 950 pupils.
Install further DPs across the village to improve local access to water.
Construct a ‘teaching toilet’ in each sub-village; to demonstrate the use of appropriate and cost-effective technology with villagers participating in the construction (integrated with the health and sanitation training programme).
Health and sanitation training to maximise the benefits of the water supply.

Funding for the project to date has come from Busega District Council, Busega Scotland, the Rotary Club of Elgin and Rotary Scotland North District. In addition, technical assistance in design and project management is provided by Busega District Council on a ‘benefit in kind’ basis.

It is sobering to consider the following Mayega Water Facts:
No house in Mayega has its own water supply and water is stored in buckets.
Water is available for about 4 to 5 hours per day.
The water system in Mayega is about the best in Busega District, whose population is over 200,000.

Most importantly, the piped water supply avoids collection of water from insanitary sources, with attendant dangers at Lake Victoria, and time-consuming carriage by women and children. Time will be available for educational, economic and family activities. Crocodile and hippo attacks occur at the lake and bilharzia is endemic.