It all started when the KCDC Founding Director, Steve Williams, met Markus Dobmeier, a Tutor at the University of applied sciences in Munich (HM) and one of the Founding Directors of the German-based NGO “Bauen für Orangefarm” (BfO) in 2019, and shared his ideas for a Centre of Excellence for the treatment and education of people with disabilities in western Uganda.
Around 12,4% of the population in Uganda lives with a disability. To improve the livelihood of these people, KCDC was founded in 2014. Over the last few years, the Organisation has grown significantly due to the huge need for these services. Currently, KCDC visits around 900 patients each month.

After this first meeting, hearing about the amazing work and background of KCDC, the idea emerged to integrate the Project into the curriculum of the University in Germany in the form of a so-called “Design-Build” Project, where Students research, design, and work on the construction of Projects. The design phase started with a Site Survey done in 2020 by a BfO Team. 

After various workshops and courses held at the HM and the Technical University Munich, supported by the input of the KCDC Team and local architects, we finally got our building permission in 2020. Because of Covid, the start of the construction was unfortunately delayed by nearly two years. The Project picked up again when Michael Arzberger, an architect from Germany and part of BfO, joined the KCDC Team in November 2021 as Project Manager.

Through the construction of the Project, combining therapy, education and training of communities, parents and teachers in the Centre of Excellence for Children with Disabilities, the reach and impact of the work of KCDC will be enhanced further. This will allow KCDC to improve the living conditions of people with disabilities and allow them to live more self-determined.

Not only the purpose of the project has a huge impact on local communities, but also the construction itself. By employing local artisans and labourers, as well as sourcing all the construction materials locally, additional income is generated for the community.

At the same time, we try to improve current ways of construction and develop new alternative ways of building, which can be easily copied using local materials, improve the overall quality and durability of buildings, and have less impact on the environment.

This is achieved by reducing the amount of cement to a minimum wherever it is possible and reusing materials. Starting from stone-stacked foundations instead of concrete. Our walls are built out of compressed earth blocks (CEB), utilising the soil we dug out from the foundation and mixing it with sand and small amounts of cement and lime. These blocks don´t need external plaster. Our internal plasters for walls and ceilings are lime-clay based and therefore create a breathable wall structure and an excellent room climate. On top of our ceiling boards, which are reused formwork timbers, we apply a layer of clay for soundproofing and heat insulation.

The core team for the design process consists of Markus Dobmeier, tutor at the University of applied sciences of Munich and Professor at the University of Art and Design in Linz, and chairperson of the NGO “Bauen für Orangefarm”(BfO); Sebastian Kofink, tutor at the Technical University of Munich(TUM) and partner of the architectural practise Kofink Scheels; Michael Arzberger, tutor at the TUM and the University of applied sciences Dortmund, and vice-chairman of (BfO). All the core members have vast experience with Design & Build projects, from lecturing and guiding students through the design process, to managing the construction of these projects, mainly in Africa. The design process was supported by Steve Williams, founder of KCDC, who has a lot of experience with construction in Uganda; Felix Holland, a Ugandan-based architect and founder of the architectural practise “localworks” which focuses on appropriate construction methods and use of materials; Achilles Ahimbisibwe, a lecturer at the Ugandan Martyr´s University in Kampala.

The first construction Phase of the Project was supported by Jonas Forstmeier, a member of BfO, experienced in various Design & Build projects, who was responsible for organising and coordinating the “KCDC Summer School” where we had 22 students from Germany and Uganda at the site, designing and working on the construction. The construction itself is managed by Michael Arzberger, who is currently based in Uganda, supported by the financial team of KCDC.
www.orangefarm-ev.de
www.kofinkschels.de
www.localworks.ug
www.kyaningacdc.org

Bauen für Orangefarm
KCDC