Uganda

Hand augering of shallow wells was introduced into Uganda in 1991 as an alternative to deep drilling.   The overall success rate of the 502 attempts made by the end of 1995 was 51%.  However, between 1996 and May 2001, only 16 attempts were made, of which 7 were successful.   The problems which contributed to the reduction in hand augering are complex (including siting, construction quality, water quality and social aspects).  However, the hard laterite bands, common throughout Uganda, and which cannot be drilled by this method present a major constraint to hand augering.
Since the decentralisation and privatisation of the provision of improved water sources in 2001, there is no central database of hand augered wells, although some rigs are still in use.
From 1998 to 2001, a three year action research project by Cranfield University at Silsoe, in collaboration with the Government of Uganda, developed hand drilling equipment – the Pounder Rig.  Pounder drilling (improved sludging) can penetrate, silts, sands and clays as well as “weathered overburden”, regolith or laterite.  The low cost drilling project also undertook training of local entrepreneurs and tried to institutionalise the technology (the Pounder rig and 200mm diameter boreholes). 
Over 20 wells were drilled, during the project duration and after its completion.  However, the technology required some further development and additional external support before it could be fully taken up.This never transpired and hand drilling in Uganda has remaoned dormant.