In the farming communities of Mabira and Nyamihanga in Uganda, the start of the dry season brings with it lower production levels for farmers, impacting on their take-home pay and food supply for families. Lack of access to water during the dry season had critical impact on the viability of crops and wellbeing of livestock. To maintain production levels, the Ministry of Water and Environment has been extending water supply to farmers through infrastructure projects across both communities to ensure land and livestock can thrive all year round. However, project implementation has not been plain sailing and a lack of stakeholder engagement impacted the maintenance and efficacy of both projects delivered.

To resolve these issues, CoST Uganda built on its past success of holding community engagement meetings called ‘barazas’ to establish a platform for public officials to engage with residents and other local stakeholders. This impact story describes the outcome of the barazas which have ensured that projects in both communities are better maintained, residents are aware of their intended use and the government has agreed to extend water supply to a further 200 farmers, meaning they too will be able to maintain their livelihoods throughout future dry seasons.