CMI > La REDA > Recursos y enlaces > Conferences and Meetings > Mayo 2007: "Churches for Water in Africa", Entebbe, Uganda
Khadija Kagoya, the caretaker of this water pump in Busowobi Village, Eastern Uganda, explains to EWN conference participants how the pump she works. Photo credit: EWN

Churches for Water in Africa

21-25 Mayo 2007

Entebbe, Uganda

Según algunas estimaciones, más de 300 millones de personas del África subsahariana no tienen acceso adecuado al agua potable. ¿Qué pueden hacer las iglesias para ayudar a garantizar agua potable suficiente ? un derecho fundamental- a todos los habitantes de ese continente?

La conferencia comenzó con un análisis de la cuestión del suministro de agua así como de su acceso en las zonas rurales de África, de los efectos del cambio climático, y de los factores políticos y económicos, para abocarse a continuación al estudio de iniciativas prácticas basadas en la comunidad en relación con el agua en el contexto del desarrollo rural integrado, las necesidades sanitarias, y la gestión del agua en las regiones afectadas por el cambio climático.

Al adoptar un enfoque sobre el agua desde la perspectiva de los derechos humanos, la Conferencia examinó problemas como la privatización, el agua considerada como mercancía y su contaminación, y los conflictos planteados por el agua y otros recursos naturales. Los participantes reflexionaron sobre los aspectos teológicos y bíblicos relacionados con el tema del agua, y efectuaron visitas sobre el terreno a proyectos en favor del agua en tugurios urbanos de Kampala, y de dos diócesis rurales.

Asistieron la conferencia casi 70 participantes, entre los que figuraban dirigentes de iglesias, teólogos, expertos en cuestiones hídricas y coordinadores de proyectos, procedentes de 19 países africanos, así como de Europa y América Latina, que se reunieron para examinar la función de las iglesias ante la crisis del agua en África. Organizó la conferencia la Red Ecuménica del Agua (REA), en cooperación con el Consejo Cristiano Unido de Uganda (UJCC), la Conferencia de Iglesias de Toda el África (AACC) y el Organismo para la Cooperación e Investigación sobre el Desarrollo (ACCORD) con sede en Uganda.

 

-->Declaración de la Conferencia

-->Programme and presentations

-->Pictures

 

 

Programme and presentations

Conference programme (.pdf / 45kb)

  

Sunday, May 20

 

Arrival of Participants

(Airport shuttle will be provided) 

 

Monday, May 21        Water in Africa: Facing the challenges

 

8.30 – 9.00

9.00 – 9.15

 

Bible Study

Welcome

 

Chair of morning session: Canon G. Kaiso

Canon Grace Kaiso

Welcome and introduction by conference facilitator Canon Grace Kaiso (UJCC) and by Dr. Guillermo Kerber (EWN / WCC)

9:15 – 10:00

Water in Africa: Facing the challenges:

"Water supply and access to water in rural Africa"

Mr Dawit Kebede, NCA Ethiopia 

10:00 – 10:30

Coffee Break

 

10:30 – 11:45

Water in Africa: Facing the challenges (continued):

"Climate change and access to fresh water in Africa in relation to the Millennium Development Goals

Water policy and modernization in Africa"

 

 

Prof Jesse Mugambi, WCC Working Group on Climate Change, Kenya

Mr Abiy Hailu, ChristianAid, Ethiopia 

 

 

11:45 – 13:00

Official Opening of the Conference:

Keynote address by Director Water Development



Guest of Honour opens the conference

 

 

Permanent Secretary (represented by Director of Water Development) Eng Shillingi

Hon Minister of Water and  Environment Mrs Mutagamba Miria 

13.00 – 14.00

Lunch Break

 

14:00 – 15:00

 

Introduction of participants

 

Chair afternoon session: Prof. Mugambi

Ms Danuta Sacher

15:00 – 15:30

Tea break

 

15.30 – 16.30



16:30 – 17:30

17:30 – 18:30 

The role of the churches:

"Emerging trends in the water sector and the role of the Ugandan Churches Discussion Groups"

Discussion Groups

Reports from the Groups

 

 

Canon Eng. Bagamuhunda


Chosen moderators and rapporteurs

Rapporteurs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 22ND                 Supporting Communities

 



8:00 – 8:30

8.30 – 9.00



Bible study

Recapitulation of day 1 

Chair of morning session Mr. Isiah Kipyegon

Father Dr. David Kyeyune

Independent observer

9.00 – 10.00

Exchange on practical community-based initiatives

Parallel Sessions:

a) Water as a component in integrated rural development projects
- E. Njeru "Community Participation in Integrated Food Security Programmes"

- E. Musili "Ukamba Christian Community Services"

b) Water, health and sanitation

- F. Eskander "Water and Health"

- M. Akwi "Best WATSAN Practices"


c) Mediating conflicts around water and natural resources

- Rev. M. Rirei "Mediating conflict - Experiences from Mt. Elgon District, Kenya"

- Bishop E. Buberwa "The Nile River Basin"


d) Adapting water management to the consequences of climate change (focusing on rain water harvesting and other technologies)

- Rev. B. Byomuhangi "The Diocese of Kigezi Rainwater Harvesting Case"

- T. Plassy "The Oruchinga Women Rainwater Harvesting & Sanitation Project"

Input by participants:

Eliud Njeru (Director ACK DOSS); Mrs Esther Musili (Executive Director Ukamba Region CCS ACK)

Dr Cecil Naugib and Dr Victor Fawzy Faheem Eskander (BLESS Egypt); Ms Milly Akwi (Water and Sanitation Officer LWF Uganda and Sudan)

Rev. Rirei  (Eldoret Region CCS ACK,  Programme Coordinator, Kenya);  Bishop Elisa Buberwa (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania)

Rev Rauben Byomuhangi,(Kabale Diocese); Mrs Tushabomwe Plassy (BFTW-ACORD)

 

10:00-10:30

Tea Break

 

10:30– 13:00

Exchange on practical community-based initiatives (continued)

 

13:00-14:00

Lunch Break

 



14:00- 15:00



Resolutions for scaling up ideas from each of the parallel sessions

Chair of afternoon session: Mr Dunstan Ddamulira

Representatives from the three groups

15:00 – 18:00

Field Preparations

Water development trends in Uganda - Policy and achievements (Cong) (download of paper)

Briefs by field visit host organizations on their initiatives: "The urban sector (Kampala / CIDI)", "Masaka Diocese / MADDO", "Jinja / Busoga Trust"

 

 

Eng Cong (Directorate of Water Development)

Dr Jukko (CIDI), Muwonge John, (Masaka Diocese) & Kiiza Sam (Busoga Trust) 

 

 

Wednesday, May  23RD       Field Visits

 

6:00  – 19: 00  

Field Visits

CIDI ( Kampala Urban slum project)

Masaka Diocese (Rural Project -west of Kampala)

Busoga Trust (Rural Project - east of Kampala)

Selected guides and observers

 


 

Thursday, May 24TH            Water – Gift of God and Human Right

 

 

8:00 – 8:30

8.30 – 10.00 

Bible study

Discussion and sharing of field visits

 

Chair of morning session:Ms Danuta Sacher

Canon Grace Kaiso

 

10:00 – 10:30

Tea Break

 

10:30 – 11:30

The human right to water and advocacy

Introduction

Mr  Odindo Opiata, Hakijamii Kenya

 

11.30 – 12.30

Presentation and analysis of case studies – Parallel workshops:

Privatization of Dar- es-slam water supply – Governance and Advocacy

The case of Lesotho




Ms. Rose Mushi, ActionAid Tanzania
Mr Moshe Tshelo, PELUM Lesotho

12:30 – 13:00

Presentation of the African Water Network: "The struggle against water privatization in Africa" (AWN)

Mr Mussa Billeyega (AWN)

13:00-14:00

Lunch Break

 

14:00-15:00

 

Human rights approach to water by Ugandan churches

 

Chair of afternoon session: Mr Arthur Shoo

Rev. Dr. Cornelius Ssempala, St Mbaga Seminary and Makerere University, Uganda

15:00 – 15:30

Break

 

15:30 – 17:15

17:15 – 18:00

 

Theological and biblical reflection (Download of paper)

Groups for reflection and discussion:

Stewardship for creation

God's and the churches care for the poor

The symbolism of water for life

Living our faith in communities

Plenary

Bishop Geoff Davies, Director of Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI)

 

 

 

Friday, May 25TH                The Way Forward: Strategies and Plans

 

8:00 – 8:30

8.30 – 10.00

 

Bible study

Recapitulation of the past days

Ecumenical Water Network 

 

Chair of morning session:Dr. G. Kerber

Canon Grace Kaiso (UJCC)

Dr. Guillermo Kerber (WCC/EWN)

Danuta Sacher (BfdW/EWN)

Maike Gorsboth (EWN)

10:00-10:30

Tea Break

 

10:30 – 11:30 

The way forward

Work in groups

11:30 – 13:00

 

Plenary

13:00 – 14:30

Lunch Break

 

14:30 – 15:30

Statement

Plenary

15:30 – 15:45

Evaluation

Plenary

16:00 – 17:30

Public Panel Discussion: Representatives of the World Bank,  Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network, Directorate of Water Development (DWD), Bread for the World (BftW)

Engeneer Sam Mutoono (World Bank), Mr John Byarugaba (Director of UWASNET), Engeneer Shillingi Mugisha (DWD), Ms Danuta Sacher (Head of Department for Policies and Campaigns, BftW)

Beginning 18:00 pm

Closing Ceremony and get-together

Address by Arch Bishop of Church of Uganda   

Rt. Rev. Luke Orombi 

 

Saturday, May 26th

 

 

 

Departure of participants