Kasaka, UG – Basooka VICOBA members invest loan funds in rainwater collection – Jan 2025

Basooka VICOBA started this year with smiles after receiving a loan from Wamukisa for their first group project. The purpose of the loan is first to fund families’ investment in water harvesting tools. All 20 families in the group opened 3-bed FAITH gardens but realized that they couldn’t depend on seasonal rains for crop growth. Harvesting rainwater offers a solution, but the families lacked tools. After much discussion among its members, the VICOBA came out with a proposal to loan funds to purchase at least a 240-litter water barrel and a collection gutter for every family.

Many Basooka members have never had the opportunity before to receive a formal loan enabling them to make an investment that can improve their lives by either earning income, reducing expense or both. This loan will give them experience with loan use and payback at a reasonable interest rate. Meanwhile, they will continue to save with the VICOBA at weekly meetings.

Most of the families have young children who help with gardening tasks. The children spend lots of time, maybe two hours per trip for a child who plays with friends along the way, fetching water from the spring which is on average 600 meters away from Kasaka homes. A water barrel will store the harvested water thus enabling more efficient water collection, and children fetching water less frequently. Families will now have enough time to maintain their FAITH gardens, even when the children go to school. Families will have more productive FAITH gardens, and children will have more time to study.

The VICOBA has money to help expand other projects within the group, most especially the savings and credit scheme within the group. After June 2025 when they repay this loan, the VICOBA members dream of starting businesses that can bring profits to the group. They are now exploring different business ideas within Kasaka village. Group savings also will fund individual family loans like the water collection tool loan.