Eng. Dathan Kahima: Bridging Infrastructure Gaps in Uganda's Refugee-Hosting Yumbe District

Uganda’s refugee settlements have placed a significant strain on local infrastructure and public services. In Yumbe District, home to the Bidibidi settlement, this pressure is particularly acute. Eng. Dathan Nuwagaba Kahima, a Project Engineering Officer with the Office of the Prime Minister’s Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP), is playing a crucial role in addressing these challenges.

Kahima’s work involves the technical planning and supervision of infrastructure investments designed to support both refugees and the host communities. The DRDIP initiative strategically avoids creating separate facilities, instead focusing on strengthening existing networks for roads, schools, water systems, and markets that serve everyone.

“Under the DRDIP framework, we focus heavily on social and economic infrastructure,” Kahima explained in a radio interview. “We have funded and constructed block classrooms and modern latrines across several primary schools in Yumbe to reduce overcrowding. On top of that, we are building vital community access roads and storage markets.”

The road projects are engineered to ensure they remain usable even during rainy seasons, facilitating easier transport of agricultural produce to markets. This improved connectivity is vital for local economies that depend on farming.

Water infrastructure is another key area of focus. The project is transitioning from traditional hand pumps to more robust, solar-powered piped water systems. These systems not only increase water availability but also aim to reduce potential conflicts over water resources between refugee and host populations, while improving public health.

Beyond construction, Kahima emphasizes sustainability through community involvement. Local committees are formed and trained in basic maintenance, ensuring the longevity of the infrastructure long after project completion.

“Sustainability relies entirely on community ownership,” Kahima stated. “For every resource centre, school expansion, or water system we design, we establish a local Community Watershed or Water Committee. We train local community members in basic plumbing, maintenance, and facility management.”

Through these efforts, Eng. Kahima and the DRDIP are demonstrating how thoughtful engineering can create resilient infrastructure that supports displaced populations and strengthens the foundations for future development in regions facing immense pressure. The impact of this work is measured not just by what is built, but by how it empowers communities.

Source: Nile Post