Bidin B (Nwoya) — Borehole Well & VSLA

Project Snapshot

Location: Bidin B village, Nwoya District, northern Uganda
Community: Bidin B
Users Served: Community members in Bidin B (Nwoya District)
Intervention: Drilled borehole well with hand pump; established a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA)
Status: Completed

Before the well

Safe water on-site was not available. Women and girls walked long distances to fetch water from unsafe sources, losing hours each day that could have been spent farming, caring for their families, or earning income. Water-related illness was common, and medical costs often forced households to sell livestock such as pigs or cows.

What We Built in Bidin B village

Drop in the Bucket drilled a community borehole well and installed a standard hand pump with a reinforced concrete apron and upgraded stainless-steel riser pipes. The site was selected to ensure central, safe access for households across the village.

Alongside the borehole, Drop in the Bucket supported the formation of a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), providing community members with a safe place to save money and access small loans for income-generating activities. The VSLA also ensures that the water committee always has the funds available to cover preventative maintenance and any repairs that come up over time.

Bidin B now

Clean water is now available within the village for drinking, cooking, and daily hygiene. Time spent collecting water has been reduced, allowing families to focus on farming, schooling, and household responsibilities.

The VSLA has turned time saved into opportunity. Members make small, regular contributions and take loans with clear repayment plans. For small traders like Agness, access to savings and credit has supported investments such as expanding market stalls and planting crops, helping households manage seasonal price changes and prepare for the dry season.

Use & Upkeep

A Water User Committee oversees daily use and cleanliness of the borehole. Trained local hand pump technicians handle first-line repairs and coordinate with sub-county and district authorities when additional support is required.

The VSLA is managed by its members, who follow agreed rules, track repayments, and meet regularly to review progress and share responsibilities.

Notes

Type: Borehole well with hand pump (community) and Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA)
Primary users: Households in Bidin B, Nwoya District
Hygiene: Keep the apron clear; encourage handwashing at home and public points
Related: See water facts for why replacing unsafe sources with boreholes matters.