.
.
Harriet Chelangat, a farmer from Kawowo village, Tingye county, in Kapchorwa district, is known for her dedication to sustainable agriculture and innovative approach to managing groundwater resources.
Faced with unpredictable rainfall and climate change challenges, Chelangat recognized the importance of preserving groundwater to ensure her crops thrive.
She dug a deep well to access groundwater, which she pumps with solar energy to irrigate her onion, maize, and cabbage crops.
According to the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), higher areas catch the water when it rains, which flows down the slopes, creating springs and streams. This water seeps into the flatter land, where the rocks are soft and weathered. It fills up an underground aquifer that eventually shares its water with local communities through springs, dug wells, and boreholes, among others.
Kapchorwa district, located on the slopes of Mount Elgon, lies on the Uganda section of the Mount Elgon Aquifer.
Nile Basin Initiative describes the Mt. Elgon aquifer as a transboundary aquifer shared between Kenya and Uganda. It covers an area of approximately 4,900 km². This aquifer extends from Mt. Elgon, a solitary extinct volcano spanning the Kenya-Uganda border.
Mt. Elgon aquifer is one of the 12 transboundary aquifers in the Nile Basin, with each of the 10 NBI countries contributing different proportions. The entire area of these aquifers spans 1,331,174 square kilometers, representing 41% of the overall area of the basin.
On the Ugandan side of Mt. Elgon, the aquifer underlies at least nine districts: Kapchorwa and Kween, which are entirely within the aquifer region, as well as Amudat, Bududa, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Nakapiripirit, Namisindwa, and Sironko.
Location of Mount Elgon aquifer system in the drainage basins across the border between Uganda and Kenya. Inset is the map of Uganda and Kenya. This visualization was developed by the NBI.
And she is not alone. Another farmer is Topester Chemutai, a female model small-scale farmer in Kapchesombe ward, Kapchorwa Municipality, Kapchorwa district.Chemutai harvests groundwater from a borehole and pumps it to irrigate her passion fruits and Irish potatoes. When she is not irrigating, Chemutai and her neighbours use the borehole to access water for domestic use.
According to her, harvesting groundwater for irrigation has “transformed not only our lives as rural women but also the way we do farming in this community.”
Likewise, Winnie Cherop from Kapchorwa Municipality, who also irrigates her crops using groundwater, narrates that their “incomes are changing daily, and this growth continues throughout the year, unlike in the past.”
The introduction of groundwater irrigation has also improved family dynamics, according to Cherop.Using groundwater for irrigation is helping female farmers in the Kapchorwa district water their crops more reliably and effectively.
This allows them to grow food throughout different seasons, leading to better crop growth and a steadier income for farmers. When families have a more stable income, they face fewer financial problems, which helps them strengthen their relationships.
“We depended on rainwater for farming; our crops failed, resulting in low income. Couples often engaged in fights, frequently leading to separation.
However, now we have a reliable source of income,” reflects Cherop.
Another female farmer on the slopes of mountain Elgon in Uganda, Esther Chemusto, has found financial relief through her solar-powered groundwater irrigation system.
She grows onions, watermelons, and cabbage. After spending Uganda shillings (UGX) 3 million (833 USD) to set up a solar-powered irrigation system that taps into groundwater, she no longer faces the high costs of hydropower and water from private suppliers.
“I used to spend over UGX 40,000 (11 USD) a week just on electricity, and with the added water costs from private suppliers, my monthly expenses could reach UGX 250,000 (70 USD),” shares Chemusto.
Now, she enjoys the benefits of using groundwater, allowing her to save more from her harvest.
Martin Mangusho, who grows Irish potatoes from the same region, reinforces Chemusto’s experience. “Groundwater is far better than relying on rainfall,” he explains.
He notes that, unlike unpredictable rain showers that can damage crops, irrigation from groundwater is gentle and reliable.
“We can’t expect rain all year, but groundwater is always available,” he notes.
The experiences of farmers on the Ugandan side of the Mt. Elgon aquifer reveal a similar situation on the Kenyan side, showing a shared set of benefits that both communities experience.
According to the Nile Basin Initiative, on the Kenyan side, the Mt. Elgon aquifer is located within the Lakes Victoria and Turkana basins. This area spans four counties: West Pokot, Busia, Trans-Nzoia (including the sub-counties of Endebes and Saboti), and Bungoma (which includes the sub-counties of Mt. Elgon, Sirisia, Kimilili, and Kabuchai).
The greater region includes Trans-Nzoia, Busia, West Pokot, and Bungoma Counties. It covers the areas of Kacheliba, Kapenguria, Endebes, Kitale, Saboti, Kiminini, Kaptama, Kapsokwany, Kimilili, Chwele, Webuye, Sirisia, Lwakhaha, Malaba, and Bungoma.
For example, in Kopsiro, Bungoma County, there is a farmer named Towett Naibei. He uses a pipe to bring water from deep underground to his fields.
Every time Towett uses this water, his crops grow strong and healthy.
This way of watering his plants is helping him keep his farm alive. It sustains his livelihood and showcases the vital role of groundwater in agricultural resilience.
Even when the weather changes and challenges like deforestation are rising, Towett isn’t worried.
He knows using groundwater allows him to provide food for his family and community.
Another perfect example of the beneficiary of Mt. Elgon groundwater in Kenya is the Ahero Irrigation Scheme, which utilizes groundwater irrigation achieved through sinking boreholes and constructing canals that distribute water throughout the farming areas.
Established in 1966, the Ahero Irrigation Scheme is crucial for thousands of regional families.
It provides food for millions and creates jobs for farmers, suppliers, and local businesses.
The scheme spans 2,168 acres and can produce up to 5,000 metric tonnes of rice.
"We can't expect rain all year, but groundwater is always available,"
Martin Mangusho, an Irish potato farmer in Kapchorwa district of Uganda. Tweet
Joel Tanui, the deputy general manager for operations and irrigation management services at the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), says that the availability of underground water combined with the heavy rains in the area made it a perfect place for growing rice, which requires heavy amounts of water.
“We have a specific mandate for the operation and maintenance of this scheme from the pump station at the water extraction point. This ensures that every farmer gets reliable water supplies. We maintain the canals, ensure they function, and check on them regularly,” Tanui says.
He also reveals plans to expand the irrigation infrastructure to 10,000 acres under a Ksh3.8 billion project (27.14 million USD).
On completion, the scheme will produce rice on 5,000 acres, with the other 5,000 acres being used for high-value crops such as bananas, vegetables, and watermelons.
With the planned scaling up of the scheme’s acreage from 2,000 to 10,000, there will be more benefits to the farmers and the job seekers in the area.
Jacinta Atieno is one of the people providing services on this rice scheme.
“After school, I moved from one town to another looking for job opportunities, but all was in vain. I am now comfortable here as I can meet my needs,” she notes.
Like in Uganda, local communities are facing a serious challenge on the Kenya side of Mount Elgon.
Deforestation is harming the environment and causing water shortages.
Deforestation harms the environment by removing trees that help maintain soil stability, support biodiversity, and regulate the water cycle. Without trees, soil erosion increases, leading to less fertile land and reduced water quality. The lack of trees also disrupts rainfall patterns and lowers groundwater levels, causing water shortages for local communities.
Evidently, the effects of deforestation extend beyond trees and wildlife. In this part of the region, residents struggle with shrinking water supplies that impact agriculture and everyday life. Families face challenges to their livelihoods and food security.
In the face of these challenges, innovation shines through.
One such innovation is solar-powered borehole for Harrison Naibei, in Chemwenda village in Kopsiro, Mount Elgon, which pumps water to a storage tank, bringing hope to the community.
This 32-foot groundwater system is helping to provide water for domestic use and agriculture to the community.
For many families in this area, fetching water heavily relies on women and children, who often travel long distances to distant wells.
But their struggle with Naibei’s solar-powered water system is starting to ease. Groundwater is now accessible in their community, allowing mothers and their children to spend less time collecting water and focusing on health, education, and family.
Still in Kopsiro, Mount Elgon, a small community near the River Malakisi, there is a water source called the Chemwenda water spring.
This spring is one of many residents’ last reliable, clean water sources.
Each day, families gather at the Chemwenda spring with jerrycans, buckets, and jugs to fill them with water flowing from the ground.
Lately, however, the water has been flowing less and less. This has raised concerns among community members about where they will find water for drinking, cooking, and washing. With this challenge, many people have begun to realize how vital it is to protect this water source.
Locals, including Judith Chebet from Korong’otuny in Cheptais, are advocating for raising awareness about the importance of sustainable practices in saving the Chemwenda Spring. They believe that by caring for their environment, they can ensure continued access to clean water for years.
Likewise, in Bungoma County, western Kenya, in the small community of Pombo Mbili, a mother, Edina Nekesa, goes daily with her children to fetch water from a nearby spring.
This water is essential for their survival. The walk to the spring is challenging, but they share stories and laughs along the way, making it feel lighter.
For Nekesa, the water from the spring represents hope for her family, as it helps them “cook, clean, and care for their animals.”
In the Mount Elgon region of Uganda and Kenya, groundwater access is key to transforming education and empowering communities. Many schools in this area rely heavily on groundwater sources, which is vital for ensuring access to safe drinking water.
For example, at Demiro Nursery and Primary School in Mbale City, the presence of a borehole has significantly improved the situation for students. The reliable water source has helped keep students in school, particularly benefiting those who might otherwise miss classes due to the lack of accessible water.
“Before we had the borehole, girls especially would often be absent,” narrates Karen Nabushawo, a teacher at this school. She notes that with the new borehole, students now stay in class, focusing on their studies instead of spending time searching for water.
Robert Naulele, a teacher in primary seven at Masaba Primary School, says it was a “dreadful moment” when they operated without a borehole.
“We lost the concentration of our best learners as the water scarcity stress would psychologically derail them,” Naulele said.
Naulele recalls four school girls, including two from his class, reporting cases of attempted sexual gender-based violence while on their way to fetch water from the community spring wall. “So these greedy and merciless men would take advantage and waylay our female learners to lure them into sexual relationships,” narrates Naulele.
Harriet Nekesa, the principal community development officer of the Mbale district, is optimistic that groundwater is bringing relief to many families.
“Our communities are flourishing, and this means well for the schools and the learners because parents can concentrate and gainfully work when their children are settled at school, consuming safe and clean water,” she says.
Francis Koko, the education officer at Mbale City Council, reveals that they are encouraging all schools within the area to establish groundwater sources, especially boreholes and other sources they might already have.
“Our office is finalizing the framing of this policy so that all our schools can run throughout the year without experiencing acute water scarcity issues,” notes Koko.
In this region of East Africa, groundwater access is also making strides toward gender equality. Traditionally, fetching water has been relegated to women and girls in this region, often taking hours out of their day.
However, with more groundwater wells installed in rural schools and communities, girls have more time to focus on their education than spend hours at water points.
This simple change has impacted young girls’ academic performance and retention rates in schools across Eastern Uganda.
In some villages in these districts, where boreholes and springs were installed in several schools, the rate of girls progressing to secondary school has increased, according to local leaders, including Cassim Namugali, the mayor of Mbale city.
He and several other local leaders believe such changes are directly linked to reduced water collection time.
“Education is key to empowering women, and access to water is a step in the right direction,” insists Namugali.
On the Kenyan side of the region, pupils at Napur Primary School in Turkana, Kenya, and community members near the school are experiencing a positive change following the drilling of three boreholes and the installation of a 10,000-litre water tank.
Headteacher James Kennedy Mwita says, “Napur Primary School has become a beacon of hope.”
Located in the semi-arid Turkana Central Sub County, Turkana, the school suffered immense water scarcity in the area, which often receives long rains as scarcely as once every three years.
The school has 1,345 pupils, of whom 450 occupy the available boarding facilities. This boarding section has 280 girls and 170 boys.
For decades, the school’s biggest challenge was the lack of unsafe water, which posed a serious public health threat to the learners.
Today, the learners can afford a smile after three boreholes were drilled and a 10,000-litre water tank installed to help harvest rainwater in the school.
Gloria Loper, a Grade Seven pupil, says the newly found water supply will allow her to avoid the long journey searching for water.
"Education is key to empowering women, and access to water is a step in the right direction,"
Cassim Namugali, the mayor of Mbale city. Tweet
Climate change and human activities are threatening essential water resources in Eastern Africa.
Deforestation, rising temperatures, and unpredictable rainfall have caused a significant decline in water supplies, creating challenges for communities that rely on irrigation for their livelihoods.
Farmer Naibei Harrison from Chemwenda village in Kapchorwa district is a good example of this struggle.
In 2023, after losing his onion farm to erratic rains, he drilled a 32-foot borehole for water.
He says that this borehole saved him but notes that “even this water source depends on how well we manage our environment.”
Likewise, Judith Chebet, a farmer in Kapchorwa district, expresses her frustration and laments that “in truth, we have destroyed our environment. Over the years, trees have been felled without regulation, and we are now seeing the effects.”
On the Kenya side of the aquifer, Bungoma County Conservator George Wara notes that if deforestation is not decreased, the region will face a “serious water shortage in the near future.”
Experts warn that Mount Elgon’s aquifer is at risk due to deforestation and excessive resource use. According to the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), forest cover decreased by 20% between 1990 and 2015, which could reduce groundwater availability. Forests and wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and quantity of groundwater.
In eastern Uganda, the impacts of climate change and water scarcity are forcing many families to depend more on underground water sources, such as wells and boreholes.
However, a significant number of these families are unaware of the laws regulating groundwater use in Uganda. This lack of awareness could have implications for local communities, particularly concerning their access to and management of this resource.
Phiona Nekesa, a resident of Kaduwa, has been using water from a borehole for the last five years. However, she expresses her surprise, admitting that she had no idea “such a law even existed,” despite being a big user of groundwater.
Kaduwa is a small locality located in the eastern part of Uganda, in the Kapchorwa district. It is situated near the border with Kenya.
Under the Water Act (1997), groundwater is classified as a “national resource,” which means the government regulates its use to ensure sustainable access for all Ugandans. Individuals can use groundwater for domestic, agricultural, and commercial purposes but must operate within legal guidelines.
According to lawyer Agnes Kanyago, “it is a problem to have a community that is not aware of the legislation about the resources they use regularly.”
Government approval is necessary for significant activities, like drilling boreholes for irrigation or bottling, to prevent over-extraction and environmental issues.
Despite clear policies, many people don’t understand the legal complexities of groundwater use.
Water expert Sam Ayoo, who is also the assistant manager at Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment- Eastern Umbrella of Water and Sanitation, notes that “it is common for villagers to simply dig a well when they need water,” unaware of the laws ensuring sustainable water sources. Without proper understanding, over-extraction could lead to depletion.
For centuries, the indigenous communities around Mt. Elgon, including the Sabiny and Bugisu on the Ugandan side, have developed a deep understanding of their environment, particularly regarding water management.
These practices passed down through generations, are rooted in a profound respect for nature and a commitment to preserving the land for future generations.
One of the most notable practices is constructing traditional water catchment systems.
These systems, often made from locally sourced materials, are designed to capture and store rainwater, allowing it to seep into the ground and replenish aquifers.
“The idea is to ensure that we help our soil retain as much water as possible and to also secure the fertile soil of our lands itself from being washed away by running water,” Simon Butsatsa, a resident of Bubulo village in Namisindwa district, says.
Community members work together to maintain these catchments, ensuring they remain functional and practical.
“We have made several community groups which have within them the common goal of conserving the environment, especially the natural resources such as water, in the best manner possible,” Butsatsa reveals.
In addition to catchment systems, the indigenous people of Mt. Elgon employ agroforestry techniques that enhance groundwater recharge.
Planting trees and maintaining diverse crops create a natural barrier that reduces soil erosion and increases water retention in the soil.
Immaculate Nelima is a member of the Butiru tree growing community group, which champions “growing of trees both for conservation and commercial purposes in Manafwa district.
“The idea is paying off already since we can see an increasing amount of soil being retained and the groundwater quality and quantity as well,” Nelima says.
Nelima urges everyone to take action in protecting their water resources. “We all have a role to play in preserving trees and planting more trees in our communities,” she notes.
Tree canopies capture rainwater, reducing runoff and allowing more water to infiltrate the ground. Nelima understands that this helps to “replenish aquifers.”
"The idea is paying off already since we can see an increasing amount of soil being retained and the groundwater quality and quantity as well,"
Immaculate Nelima is a member of the Butiru tree growing community group in Manafwa district. Tweet
A Project by:
The Nile Basin Initiative
Produced By:
Water Journalists Africa-InfoNile
Stories, photos and videos by: Jesse Chenge in Kenya, Silas Javier Omagor and Emmy Muchunguzi in Uganda
Editors: Delicate Sive, Henry Owino, Bendana Christopher and Kevine Omollo.
Principal Investigator and Editor: Fredrick Mugira