In sub-Saharan Africa countries like Uganda, the struggle for safe water persists, with a staggering 83% of the population lacking access to a reliable water source. A 2019 report by the Water and Sanitation Program underscores the societal toll, estimating an annual loss of 389 billion shillings due to premature deaths, reduced productivity, and healthcare expenses.
Amidst these challenges, Jenipher Alum, a visionary Ugandan innovator, has launched Aquatech, a startup using technology to revolutionizee water access in East African communities.
Motivated by firsthand experiences and the pressing need for change, Jenipher is seamlessly intergrating technology and community empowerment.
Jenipher seeks to employ cutting-edge technology like Artificial Intelligence and IoT to detect water leaks in public water supply. She is also designing user-friendly water filters, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 6. Jenipher’s personal experiences as a child in her home village in Lira district where clean water access was a struggle, and trekking long distances was the norm fuelled her commitment to leveraging technology for transformative change, evident in her participation in Crowd4SDG, where she stood out as one of two Ugandan innovators chosen for water research after a compelling global technology pitch in 2022. During this time, she worked with the European Organization for Nuclear research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland, where she was researching and building her technology solutions over a period of 6 months.
Armed with expertise in food and water science acquired through training in Uganda and Europe, Jenipher’s journey took her to the Global Innovation summer school, stationed at the Citizen Science Africa center, USIU Nairobi. Currently, Aquatech is implementing pilot programs in Kenya and Uganda, showcasing the tangible impact of its technology in improving water access.
Jenipher’s exploration of water and Sustainable Development Goal 6 at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva set the trajectory for Aquatech. Her engagement in citizen science has further refined her understanding of community-driven solutions, marking a steadfast commitment to creating tangible impacts in the realm of water solutions.
She is currently implementing Pilot Programs in Kenya and Uganda in a Bid to test and demonstrate the potential which her technology and innovation holds in contributing to the improvement of water access within communities in East Africa.