When your work involves providing remote schools and villages in Africa with clean water, it is easy to make new friends. Sometimes, these bonds extend far beyond the completion of a project, becoming lifelong connections. This was the case with Opiyo Richard from Laminogwiri village in Uganda, a friendship that blossomed amidst the drilling of a new borehole by Drop in the Bucket.

As with all of our drilling projects, the first step is always a visual inspection. Our team scouts the area for potential sites and also makes sure we are in a needy area with no other sources of clean water nearby. It was during the first visit to Laminogwiri that the team encountered Opiyo Richard. His wide smile and warm greeting made us feel immediately welcome.

Opiyo, a motorcycle mechanic in the village, paused his work the moment he heard the field truck approach. “When I saw that it was the team that would drill for us the borehole (Drop in the Bucket), I immediately came and joined them, showing them around and even helping to clear a path for their trucks,” Opiyo recalls with enthusiasm.

Finding the Right Location

Once a suitable location for the well was identified, Opiyo’s excitement grew. “I was so thrilled the morning the drilling rig arrived. I came to help them settle in and ended up staying until the borehole was completed,” he shares. “I was here for the handing-over ceremony, and I will always be near this borehole,” Opiyo proudly declares.

Opiyo’s dedication to the project was unwavering. Despite having paying work to attend to, he felt compelled to lend his time and energy to the drilling process. The drillers were delighted by his infectious energy and eagerness to assist, making Opiyo an integral part of the team.

Asked about his commitment, Opiyo’s response was heartfelt: “You don’t know how badly we needed clean water in this village.”

Accompanied by other community members, Opiyo led a journey to the old water source. We soon arrived at a muddy open water hole shared with pigs and cows. “This is the pond we used to use. We shared it with pigs and cows. As for the distance? Well, now you know how far we just walked,” he explains with a mix of relief and reminiscence.

The Previous Water Source

For the people of Laminogwiri, this pond was their sole source of water. They would wade into the murky water, scooping it into their containers despite its obvious contamination. Komakech Daniel, a local schoolboy, recalls the struggles: “Our school uniforms are white, so each time we washed them with water from the pond, they got more and more stained.”

Oyella Nancy points towards the horizon, indicating the next pond over a distant hill. “During the rainy season, the water on the ground runs into the pond, making it even muddier. With no other options, we still came here to fetch water,” she explains, highlighting the community’s dire situation.

With a baby tied to her back, Oyella Nancy expresses the challenges faced by mothers in the village. “We used this dirty water to bathe our babies and wash their clothes. We knew it was unhealthy, but what could we do?” she laments, a mixture of resignation and hope in her voice.

The New Well

But hope arrived with the commissioning of the new borehole. Aol Mary gazes at the clean water with a smile, reflecting on the transformation. “You just heard that schoolboy talking about washing his clothes with dirty water, and you heard my neighbors talking about their children getting sick. Well, all of those problems have now been solved!”

As the community gathers to thank Drop in the Bucket at the commissioning ceremony, Opiyo reflects on the departure of his newfound friends. “I will be right here by the borehole, taking good care of it and making sure there are never any problems. But don’t let that stop you from coming to visit us,” he assures with a laugh, his commitment to his village and its clean water source unwavering.