VE's Appropriate Technology Library Helps Villages in Uganda

Bob Wright is originally from New Jersey. He now lives in Karamojo, a district of northern Uganda where he purchased 150 acres of land. On this land he has created a service center similar to those developed by Village Earth's partners around the world. He has sparked interest from local people and they have helped each other develop a village.

Bob recently came to the Engineering Research Center at Colorado State University to visit Village Earth to share his success using the library.

Hostility, caused by ’s dependence on fossil fuels, is severe in Karamojo. Bob pays an armed guard to travel with him because, "bandits will shoot you for your gas." Using the AT library, the village is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. They have installed solar panels to supply electrical power for their medical clinic and veterinary hospital and they used the AT library book, "Maintaining Motorcycles," to repair and operate fuel efficient dirt bikes. The AT library has been used for many other things too.

They have successfully drilled for water and now have an ample supply for themselves and the arid land. They built an irrigation system and use manure to fertilize crops. The crop production has improved significantly and has excited many villagers.