Getting Started - Late March 2011

In Uganda, a meeting hall with open windows and doors is known by many names and dialects; tukulu (Ngakarimojong), and ot aperu (Luo) to name a few. This is an ancient, iconic structure, usually constructed in a round shape, but it can be shaped differently. The purpose and ambience of the building is more important than its shape.

In Uganda, the International Organization for Migration came up with the idea of using environmentally-friendly construction methods that use locally available materials.

(Kindly note most translated terms are in Luo)

The materials we allowed ourselves to use included as follows:

Earth (lobo);

Polypropylene bags (kicaa), exactly the same type used for packaging food-aid in Uganda - 26KG type - they're locally available (!);

Clay soil (lobo agulu);

Gravel (kotokoto);

Sand (kweyo);

Grass (lum);

Poles (kwori);

Sisal cord (tol);

Bamboo strip (tadi); and

Dung (cyet dyang).

Other materials not locally available included as follows:

Barbed wire (chengenge);

Cement (cementi);

Lime;

Timber (bao);

Twisted rebar (adit);

Chicken mesh;

Stirrups;

Binding wire; and

Nylon cord.

Equipment / tools required include as follows:

Hammers (nyono);

Wheelbarrow (gadi gadi);

Tampers;

Metal sliders;

Nails (cumaa);

Saw;

Snips;

Pliers;

Pail/bucket (baket);

Pick axe;

Hoes (kweri);

Spade (atok);

Needles (libira lakwo kicaa); and

Axe (lato).

Doing a simple test of the methods and tools is a really handy way of avoiding high costs later on when you are constructing something more ambitious. We gained invaluable lessons through the construction of a rudimentary fuel bunker. Partly because this  bunker was constructed in haste, it was what we in the aid industry call a ‘lesson learned’. The bunker had two key flaws. Foremost of these was the fact that the bags were not filled with exactly the same volume of earth; this led to lumpy, uneven walls and in a larger structure would probably lead to structural defects. The second and lesser problem, was the roof design, which we constructed from reinforced  concrete; this caused irreparable sagging rendering access difficult. At any rate, we would recommend people building a small structure before embarking on something larger and more resource-intensive.

Last but not least: READ UP!

There’s quite a few good sites online with resources on earthbag construction references. The ones we relied on include as follows:

“Earthbags!" by Madhavi Kapur Foundation's  available at http://www.mkf.in/pdfs/earthbags-english.pdf

and

"Earthbag Building in the Humid Tropics: Simple Structures" by Patti Stouter available at http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/resources.htm

NEXT: The Foundation...