DOB Equity, a Dutch family-backed impact investor focused on East Africa, has announced a new investment in Irrisol Engineering, a Ugandan water infrastructure company. Irrisol provides safe and affordable water to underserved rural and peri-urban communities through solar-powered water systems. The partnership aims to help the company expand its network of community water mini-grids across Uganda.
Bridging Rural Water Gaps
Access to safe and reliable water remains a major challenge across Uganda, especially in rural areas. Many households still depend on distant sources, and women and children often bear the burden of long journeys to collect water. Existing rural water systems also struggle with poor maintenance, weak design and limited financing, which reduces their long-term usefulness.
Founder-Led Local Solution
Irrisol Engineering was founded in 2017 by water and irrigation engineer Joash Bwambale, who experienced the problem firsthand. The company designs, builds and operates solar-powered water mini-grids in Western Uganda that deliver water directly to households and community taps. Its systems combine solar-powered pumps with consumption-based billing and mobile-money payments, making access more reliable and affordable.
Hybrid Model Strengthens Sustainability
The company operates a hybrid model that combines community water mini-grids with standalone solar-powered systems for schools, hospitals, businesses and households. Before building a system, Irrisol conducts feasibility studies to assess the sustainability of local water sources. Once operational, the infrastructure is regularly inspected and maintained, while mobile-money payments support efficient revenue collection and long-term service.
Measurable Reach And Expansion Plans
To date, Irrisol has developed 14 community mini-grids and more than 600 standalone water systems, reaching approximately 350,000 people. The company plans to expand its network of mini-grids across the Rwenzori region and into other parts of Uganda. DOB Equity's investment will support stronger operations and the rollout of additional community water systems, bringing reliable water closer to more households.
Alignment With Impact Investing Goals
The transaction aligns with DOB Equity's focus on water and sanitation, one of its three core investment pillars. The investor supports locally developed and commercially viable solutions that improve access to essential services while strengthening climate resilience. Beyond capital, DOB Equity provides strategic guidance, governance expertise and access to networks to help businesses scale sustainably.
Potential Beyond Household Water
Irrisol's systems could also support broader economic activity in the communities they serve. The company is exploring productive uses of water, including irrigation and fish farming, which can strengthen local food systems and livelihoods. These initiatives may build greater resilience in rural areas while enhancing the overall impact of the water infrastructure.
Leadership Perspectives
Cikü Mugambi, Investment Director at DOB Equity, described Bwambale as the type of founder the firm backs because he is solving a problem he lived himself. She noted that more than 400 million Africans still lack access to safe drinking water and that Irrisol's pay-as-you-go plans align payments with household incomes. Bwambale added that reliable water should not depend on location or income, and that the partnership provides capital, expertise and long-term support to replicate the model in more communities.
By combining commercially sustainable infrastructure with a clear social mission, Irrisol demonstrates that rural water services can be both essential public goods and viable enterprises. The new partnership with DOB Equity is expected to accelerate the company's growth and increase access to clean water for underserved Ugandan communities. Over time, the model could serve as a replicable example for rural water delivery across the region.