Where Water Changes Everything: The Busanza Tank
High in the hills of Busanza, in Kisoro, Uganda, access to water is not simple. It is not a tap you turn on. It is not something waiting for you in your home. It is something you walk for. Carry. Climb with.
And sometimes… fall trying to bring back.
The Journey There
Reaching Busanza is also not easy!
It took us nearly two hours of slow, careful driving over steep, rugged terrain. At times, the car struggled to climb the hills, and we had to stop so rocks could be wedged behind the wheels to stop us from sliding backwards.
The final stretch couldn’t be driven at all so we walked, quietly grateful, I thought at the time, that I wasn’t carrying anything heavy.
As we arrived, children from neighbouring hills spotted us and began running – as fast as their little legs could carry them.
Out of breath but beaming, they called out: “Mzungu, how are you?!”
Men and women followed, walking long distances just to greet us. They already knew why we were there. Water!
The Reality of Daily Life
In Busanza, collecting water is part of survival.
Every day, people walk down steep hills to collect it, then carry heavy containers back up again.
It is exhausting.
Relentless.
And often dangerous.
While we were there, I was taken to meet a 69-year-old woman. She had fallen while carrying water up the hill and broken her hip. With no access to surgery, she now lies in bed as it heals slowly – a process that will take months.
Her care now falls to her seven-year-old granddaughter. Because of this, that little girl no longer attends school. And yet, when I spoke to her, she smiled. She giggled.
Her strength was quiet, but undeniable.
A Community That Gives Anyway
Despite everything, the people of Busanza gave to us. Because we had travelled so far, they prepared a meal. We sat together and shared beans, rice, matoke, posho, spinach, potatoes, and g-nuts.
As we ate, they sang. There is a generosity in these communities that is hard to explain, especially when they have so little.
A Simple Solution
The solution is not complicated. But its impact is profound. A 20,000-litre rainwater tank.
Constructed within the community, it captures and stores rainwater, providing a safe, reliable source of water close to home.
No dangerous climbs.
No hours lost walking.
No children missing school to help carry it.
Just water.
The Moment It Changed
On February 13, 2026, the Busanza tank was completed.
This single tank now serves approximately 400 people. Four hundred lives made easier. Four hundred people who no longer have to face that daily climb.
Including families living on the very hill where that elderly woman fell.
What Changes When Water Comes Closer
When water becomes accessible, everything changes.
- Children can stay in school as they are no longer walking
- Injuries from carrying heavy loads are reduced
- Time is freed up for work, rest, and family
- Hygiene improves
- Health outcomes improve
From Brisbane to Busanza
This tank was made possible by people thousands of kilometres away.
Funded through community fundraising and private donations in Australia, including the generous support of the Rotary Club of Jindalee, this project is a direct connection between two communities.
From Brisbane… to Busanza.
From generosity… to impact.
How do the Ugandans celebrate? Well of course, they sing and dance.
A Ripple That Continues
This is more than a tank. It is time returned. Risk reduced. Opportunity restored. It is one small change that ripples outward, through families, through children, through entire communities.
Be Part of the Ripple Effect
There are many more communities like those in Busanza. Places where something as simple as water can change everything. If you would like to be part of this work, you can support future water projects here:
