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Student teams in Uganda Create Solar-Powered Water Pumps to Support the Country’s Need for Sustainable Water Conservation and Management

Water is an essential resource that supports all aspects of human life and agriculture. It is vital for human health and well-being and is the backbone of food production. Without reliable access to clean water, communities and farming systems face severe challenges. In Uganda, water scarcity has become a growing concern due to population growth and extreme weather. 

Recognizing the need for a solution, two student teams from Uganda launched EPICS in IEEE projects that underscore the importance of water conservation and responsible management. Both teams created innovative water pumping solutions to improve living conditions and foster a sustainable future in Ugandan communities.

Kyambogo and Mbarara University Students Provide Access to Clean, Safe Water

In April 2024, ten students from the IEEE Uganda Section at Kyambogo University and Mbarara University of Science and Technology, along with six IEEE volunteers, launched their project, “Reliable and Sustainable Clean Water Access for Kakoma Community.” Raymond Nagumya, the team’s finance secretary, explains that the initiative “focused on providing quick and reliable access to clean and safe water for residents of Kakoma and Kikwoka villages.”

The team developed a water pumping system that integrates solar panels, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms, and efficient power conversion techniques. “This system converts solar energy into electricity that powers a pump to draw water from underground and distribute it to the storage tank,” explains Nagumya. The pump also features a lithium-ion battery for storing surplus energy and a sensor-based detection system to prevent water wastage. 

Collaboration with the Tarn Foundation, an organization promoting the use of clean and sustainable energy, was instrumental in the students’ success. “The foundation’s experience in community engagement and environmental preservation made them an ideal partner for ensuring local involvement and project sustainability,” says Nagumya. 

At the start, the team encountered several challenges, including delayed material deliveries and insufficient coordination with stakeholders. To overcome these setbacks, Nagumya notes that “the team held regular check-ins and planning meetings with all partners to realign timelines and responsibilities. ” These efforts were crucial in managing obstacles and maintaining momentum. 

The solar-powered water pump has significantly impacted the Kakoma and Kikwoka villages. Nagumya proudly declares, “We eliminated long queues and reduced the vulnerability of women and girls who previously walked long distances to fetch water.” He continues, “beyond water access, the project empowered the community through training in rainwater harvesting, source protection, and basic maintenance to ensure sustainability.” 

The team hopes that their solar-powered system will be a long-term solution. “We trained community members, especially the youth and caretakers, on routine maintenance, system troubleshooting, and rainwater harvesting techniques to ensure the water system remains functional and community-owned,” says Nagumya. “Regular follow-ups and monitoring visits are conducted to assess performance and address any technical issues.”

Looking ahead, the team aims to replicate their model in neighboring communities. “With the positive feedback and interest already expressed by nearby villages, we are exploring partnerships and funding opportunities to expand the initiative,” Nagumya states. 

The team expresses deep gratitude to the donors of EPICS in IEEE. “EPICS in IEEE believed in the vision and the potential impact of this initiative, which gave our team the confidence and motivation to deliver a high-quality solution. Their backing reinforced the value of youth-led, community-centered engineering projects.”

This impactful project was made possible by US$9,000.00 in funding from generous EPICS in IEEE donors.

Kyambogo University and IEEE Young Professionals Empower Local Farmers with Irrigation Technology

While the Kyambogo and Mbarara University team focused on water access for human consumption, another group of innovators addressed agricultural water access. In April 2024, a team of students from Kyambogo University and the IEEE Uganda Section Young Professionals launched their project, “Development of a Solar-Powered Smart Pump Drive for Sustainable Irrigation Farming in Uganda.” Henry Bob Ssebunyi, the team’s hardware technician, explains the initiative “aimed not only to improve agricultural productivity but also to reduce environmental impact.”

The team, divided into hardware and software groups, developed a solar-powered, low-consumption water pump designed for irrigation. The system uses sensors to collect real-time data on voltage, current, flow rate, and power consumption. “The data is processed using an AVR microcontroller, supported by arithmetic and floating-point units for advanced calculations,” Ssebunyi explains. “Additional technologies included analog-to-digital converters, flow-rate transducers, and GSM modules.”

To complement the hardware, the software team built an Internet of Things (IoT) platform for remote monitoring and control. “This platform was built using the MQTT protocol for lightweight, efficient communication between devices and the server,” Ssebunyi adds. “The seamless integration of these hardware and software technologies allowed for a reliable, scalable, and user-centered irrigation management system.”

The team collaborated with Movement of Women in Action (MOWA), an organization dedicated to empowering rural communities–especially women–through sustainable development. “The collaboration with MOWA was essential for community engagement, mobilization, and trust-building,” says Ssebunyi. Their involvement ensured the team stayed focused on serving local farmers’ needs.

A few challenges emerged during prototype development. Some hardware components were difficult to source locally, requiring imports and causing minor delays. On the software side, ensuring stable data transmission in rural areas proved difficult. “These experiences taught the team the importance of resilience, proactive problem-solving, and continuous communication,” Ssebunyi reflects.

The pump has already made a significant impact on local farm communities. It reduced water wastage and eliminated manual operation, allowing farmers to irrigate their crops more efficiently. “This increased productivity is not only boosting household income but also contributing to greater food security,” Ssebunyi notes.  

Looking ahead, the team plans to improve and scale the system. “We plan to improve the user interface of the IoT application, enhance hardware durability, and optimize data transmission for low-bandwidth environments,” says Ssebunyi. “These improvements will make the system more robust and user-friendly for broader development.”

Reflecting on the experience, Ssebunyi shares, “The best solutions are co-created, where technical expertise meets local knowledge. This experience reinforced the idea that engineering is not just about building things, but about building relationships and working alongside the people you aim to serve.”

Ssebunyi and the team are grateful for the support from EPICS in IEEE. “The support gave our team the confidence and motivation to push forward,” he says. 

As with the first project, this initiative was made possible by US$8,000.00 in funding from generous  EPICS in IEEE donors. This incredible support has allowed EPICS in IEEE students to make a notable difference in Uganda. 

For more information, visit EPICS in IEEE. Interested in helping EPICS in IEEE expand its reach and support more projects? Contact Danny Deliberato, CFRE, at d.deliberato@ieee.org, call him at +1.732.562.5446.