Introducing
Topista Tibenderana

Topista Tibenderana and her family are the first to be supported by Borrmeister Architects in building a family rainwater tank.

Living in a remote Ugandan village, Topista is a strong and resilient woman. Her home is about half a kilometre from the nearest feeder road, meaning all building materials—sand, cement, and welded mesh—must be carried in by hand, often balanced on the heads of family and community members.

To make water access easier for daily cooking, cleaning, and household needs, the tank will be built behind the house, close to the kitchen. For Topista’s family, it means an end to long treks and uncertain water sources—and the beginning of a healthier, more secure future.

An elderly woman and a young boy standing outside a mud brick house, each carrying large yellow water containers on their heads, in a rural setting.

Follow Topista’s Journey…

Clean water will bring safety, health, and hope—right where it’s needed most.

Topista Tibenderana (centre) stands proudly with her family alongside Gilbert Mugabe (far right), Project Supervisor from the Centre for Community Solidarity.

Before the Tank

Topista and her granddaughter collect water from nearby rock catchments. When those dry up, they walk 4 kilometres to a seasonal stream with salty, mineral-heavy water. In the dry season, they travel up to 7 kilometres to fetch water from the River Kagera.

A woman standing outdoors next to a truck, holding a pipe and wearing a yellow T-shirt, purple skirt, and a beige headscarf.
Topista smiles as she signs the funding agreement between her family and Borrmeister Architects—a meaningful step toward bringing safe, clean water to her home.

A New Beginning

Topista signs the contract agreement with Borrmeister Architects and receives building supplies, thoughtfully organised by the Centre for Community Solidarity—marking the exciting start of her family’s rainwater tank project.

A woman and a young child in a rural outdoor setting near mud walls and a small house with a corrugated metal roof. The woman is standing under a blue tarp, holding a water bottle, while the child, dressed in red and patterned clothing, stands nearby.
People working on a large cylindrical cement water tank outside a mud brick house with one girl standing nearby.
A woman standing next to a large round rainwater tank with a handwritten sign indicating its construction details, outdoors with trees in the background.

A Life-Changing Milestone

Thanks to the incredible collaboration between CCS, Topista, her family, and the local community, they now have reliable access to clean, safe water—every day of the year.

Ka pai, team—what a fantastic achievement!

Concrete water tank outdoors on dirt ground with trees and a brick wall in the background.
Concrete rainwater tank in an outdoor setting with a handwritten label indicating it was built in Uganda in 2015 by architect Charles with funding from barmerns.