The innovation, titled MaKNAI, was made by a team of researchers headed by Dr Nicholas Kigundu, the principal investigator, from the department of agricultural bio-systems engineering at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Kigundu explained that preliminary understanding of COVID-19 suggested that the virus can be transmitted by coming into contact with an infected surface, yet boreholes and shallow wells account for 67.6% of the water sources in rural areas in Uganda and supply water to an estimated 18,540,000 persons.

The MaKNAI units, he said, comprise a PV panel, battery, solar charge controller, inverter, pulleys, belt, reciprocating arm, and a foot switch to replace use of palms and fingers as the practice is while drawing water.

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