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The University of Southampton
Global Network for Anti-Microbial Resistance and Infection Prevention

Timothy Kayondo wins Africa Prize 2021 Alumni Grant

Published: 9 February 2021
Bukere Primary School
Bukere Primary School in KyakaII refugee settlement, South western Uganda

Global-NAMRIP member Timothy Kayondo has been awarded £15,000 from the Royal Academy of Engineering under its Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation programme. The scheme supports ambitious African innovators develop scalable engineering solutions to local challenges. Timothy’s company ‘Aqua Methods Uganda’ has developed an Eco mobile water purifier producing clean water using readily available technology and agricultural waste for the carbon filters. The devices are currently implemented in health centre and refugee camps within remote areas of Uganda.

Level III clinic
Level III clinic, in the Central region of Uganda

This latest award follows on from an eight-month package of support Timothy received as one of the 2020 Africa Prize for Engineering short list . It will help him implement the strategies developed during this time including expanding distribution to different regions of Uganda, introducing complementary products and reducing the cost of producing the purifier.

NAMRIP Chair Professor Timothy Leighton said “I am delighted and proud to see Timothy have continued success securing additional funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering, enabling his team at Aqua Methods Uganda to progress their invaluable work providing safe drinking water within rural Uganda.”

Mannze SS, in Central region, Uganda
Mannze Secondary School, in Central region of Uganda

Professor Leighton met Timothy at Global-NAMRIP’s conference in Uganda in March 2019 where Timothy demonstrated his water purification system. This began Global-NAMRIP’s mentorship and sponsorship of the team for the Africa Prize.

From their workshop in Kampala the team are currently producing about 10 units a month. These will be transported to schools as soon as the government lift the lockdown restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic and schools are able to reopen. The team have also successful introduced a system of recruiting graduate trainees from different universities and institutions, to support on site training during the installation process.

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