NWSC External Services department (ES) in collaboration with the Training and Capacity Development (TCD) department is conducting a week-long training in Kitgum, for the design, operation, and maintenance of solar pumping systems constructed under the ATWATSAN project.
The training has convened participants from over nine (9) areas; Kitgum, Gulu, Apac, Nebbi, Pader, Paidha, Soroti, Lira, and Kaberamaidho.
The training commenced with welcome remarks from the Manager Training & Capacity Development, Mr. Edison Muzahura who noted that, solar pumping systems are one of the innovative and sustainable solutions that NWSC is implementing to improve access to water with a keen eye on cost reduction. He, therefore, reiterated that the training was very important and timely, thus calling upon the participants to learn as much as possible from the solar expert and implement the solutions back at their workstations.
The Kitgum Manager; Rachel Ann Alokit, in her remarks, welcomed the participants to the region as well as the training. She informed the team about the ATWATSAN project that was responsible for the solar installations and was pleased to report that the system in Kitgum was fully operational.
She further informed the team that Kitgum was looking forward to solarizing all its installations and as such, there was a plan to set aside a budget every financial year to support this, bearing in mind that solar is a cheaper kind of energy and Kitgum is blessed with sunshine.
She rechoed manager TCD’s words, urging participants to pay close attention during the training and take the knowledge back to their stations rather than leaving it in the training room, because another training would be organized once the other stations were solarized, and the attendees of this training would be responsible for training the other staff. She further expressed gratitude to the NWSC management and Davis & Shirtliff for the installations and for organizing the training.
Finally, she appreciated the few ladies in the field and thanked them for representing the rest.
The session was then followed by brief introductions from the participants, who then discussed the challenges/ successes of the solar installations and what they expected to learn from the training. With great expectations in mind, Eng. Phillip Walusimbi, the trainer, embarked on the task. The training will involve both theoretical and practical sessions at the solar installation sites.
