Changing Lives One Water Tank at a Time: How Women in Kashare Subcounty Are Joining Hands to Access Clean Water

In Kashare Subcounty, Kashari, Mbarara District, a quiet revolution is taking shape. It is not led by politicians or international development agencies, but by ordinary women determined to transform their community.

A group of about 100 women have united under a unique initiative: every three months, they pool their resources to build a water tank for one member’s household. Slowly but surely, they are changing lives—one tank at a time.

For years, women and young girls in rural Uganda have borne the heavy burden of water scarcity. Daily life has meant walking long distances, queuing at wells, and struggling to find enough water for both domestic and agricultural use. In Kashare, the challenge is compounded by unstable rains and prolonged droughts that often leave the area dry. Sometimes, women and children have had to walk more than 10 kilometers in search of water.

The Mirongo Tukundane Group women’s initiative is rewriting that story. With each tank constructed, a family gains reliable access to clean water right at their doorstep.

“Having this tank in my home is like a dream come true,” said Kyohairwe Edinance, one of the members who has already benefited. “My children and I used to walk long distances to fetch water, especially during the dry season when our well dried up. Now, the time we wasted fetching water is invested in farming, small businesses, and education.”

According to the group leader, Atuhaire Melon, each woman contributes Shs 20,000 every month, and after three months, the pooled funds are enough to construct a tank.

“We have so far built 42 tanks,” Atuhaire explained. “Our target is more than 100, especially now that more women are joining the group.”

Beyond easing the burden of fetching water, the tanks are improving sanitation, reducing the risk of waterborne diseases, and restoring dignity and security to households.

What makes this initiative remarkable is the spirit of solidarity behind it. Every woman contributes what she can, knowing that her turn will come. It is a powerful model of community-driven development, built on trust, patience, and shared responsibility.

As the women of Kashare are proving, development does not always come from external interventions. Sometimes, it begins with neighbors joining hands, pooling their modest resources, and believing in the power of unity.

One tank may not seem like much, but for these women, each one represents freedom—from long treks for water, from the risk of disease, and from the limitations of poverty. And as the tanks continue to rise across Kashare, so too does the hope of a brighter, more resilient future.