Back in Ug

Just before we went to the US, WMU had a visitor from Grundfos Denmark come to visit to learn about the TradeWater project. Louise was so positive and inspired, and I was (with permission) able to share a lot of community development ideas in terms of WASH training. After being in Uganda she was going to Kenya, and so wanted to have some alternative views on how to operate their community-minded business. It was a mutually beneficial trip. We took her to the nearby projects of Ntinkalu, which is almost finished, and Musuli, one of the early projects.

Of course I loved having the opportunity to be out in the villages! With the kids!

Bryan and I got back to Jinja Tuesday morning, around 4am. Our home was just as we left it... without power or gas.  Diesel is being rationed December-January, power is out daily, water goes off too (happens when power is off consistently), and we're yet to find who we can overpay to have our gas re-filled. For me personally it's not that big a deal, but for people like Jude (the friend who we stay with and rent off) business depends on it.

We went back to work on Tuesday. We arrived on time, but tiredness got the better of us and we went home to sleep at 2pm. The first site for the TradeWater pilot projects is starting soon! The village is called Kikondo; it's in Buikwe District. The leaders have been well informed and consulted, the MOU has been signed, the land purchased, and we are in the process of identifying the Water Agent. Construction of the water system, bathrooms, and phone charging set-up starts Monday. A couple of the guys from Grundfos Kenya are coming to train the team on how to install and operate the LifeLink unit this weekend. It will be good for Bryan to be able to be out in the field, putting his engineering skills to use. I think I'll get to go out and do the WASH trainings with Ritah, but otherwise I'm here in the office. Oh, the office.

Bryan and David at the Yokum Thanksgiving

It's hard to believe the year is almost up. Bryan and I will spend Christmas with some American and Canadian friends. We haven't organised the menu yet, but we've opted not to buy a chicken or a goat because it's so much effort. We want to be able to go to church, be merry and chill out. Can't go too wrong on Christmas though, right!