27-year-old Matia Ategeka received a Bachelor of Science in Water and Irrigation Engineering from Makerere University. He finds great significance in his graduation since he not only earned a bachelor’s degree but also acquired the know-how required to create an innovative off-grid water pump irrigation system.
Lowly Origins
Matia is an orphan who has trouble in school because of his lack of money. He persevered through his formal schooling because of his older siblings’ encouragement and determination. He and his siblings used to travel great distances to get water from the River Mpanga to irrigate their family crops while growing up in Fort Portal, which is about an hour’s drive from Kampala, the capital of Uganda. His hours spent on irrigation each morning often caused him to arrive late for class. He would often have to use his friend’s notes to make up for classes he missed.
“There is a water supply in our Fort Portal neighborhood, but we are unable to purchase the priciest irrigation pumps available. The issue, according to Matia, was that the manual watering method—which lacked technology—was having an impact on vegetable yields and productive hours.
Maintaining the Dream
Matia maintained his goal throughout his first year of college by creating what he dubbed a self-irrigation pump—a device that employs pressure elevation inside an enclosed vacuum. However, this was unable to pump water very far, which meant that it was unable to address the irrigation problem he was trying to remedy for his town. Resolved to persevere, Matia created a hand-wheel pump in his second year that draws water out of the earth. Even so, it was only able to pump water a distance of 4 meters and not much higher. Seeking a better answer, he kept researching.
“After these two unsuccessful attempts, I realized through research that I needed access to better technology and an environment that was supportive of technology to perfect my invention.”
Matia never gave up and, in his third year, learned that Makerere University had been chosen by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to work with them on creating a fully functional, multidisciplinary University Innovation Pod (UniPod) as part of the Timbuktoo Africa program.
“I was anticipating and thrilled about the Unipod.”
For Matia, it was a real dream come true. He worked on his concept using the Unipod’s free resources, which included internet connection and metalworking equipment. In addition, he received funding from the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund and encouragement from classmates and instructors to improve his off-grid spiral water wheel pump.
At first, Matia’s concept was rejected, even after the Unipod was created and he began using its capabilities. He submitted it as a proposal for his senior year, but it was turned down.
Mattias at the Makerere UniPod showcasing his invention to important partners.
“I was instructed to discontinue it by my supervisor, who informed me that they had never seen or heard of such an idea elsewhere. However, I didn’t.
Finally, Matia created the off-grid irrigation water pump, which allows underprivileged areas in Uganda to have irrigation systems without relying on the country’s electrical infrastructure. Rivers and canals provide the kinetic energy that the spiral water wheel pump harnesses. Up to 30 meters in the air and more than 2 kilometers downhill, it can pump 15 liters of water every minute.
Growing the Idea
After testing his off-grid spiral water wheel pump, Matia registered his innovation for patenting with the help of the Makerere University Intellectual Property (IP) Management Committee and the UniPod Technology Transfer Office. Since then, Matia has registered his business with the Uganda Registrations Services Bureau (URSB) under the name Mat Water Solutions. With aspirations to expand to Mozambique and South Africa, he already employs five people and has placed spiral pumps in towns in Rwanda and Uganda.
“I am seeking collaborations to enhance and increase my influence in rural communities.”
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) has chosen Matia’s invention to be shown at the 9th Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum at the UN Headquarters in New York.
This demonstrates the transforming impact of the Timbuktoo Unipods, which enable gifted youth like Matia to fully express their inventive potential. Accompanying UNDP on Timbuktoo will generate several other approaches to address development obstacles.