DOB Equity Invests in Irrisol Engineering to Expand Access to Safe and Reliable Water in Uganda
Nairobi, Kenya – 1st September 2026
DOB Equity, a Dutch family-backed impact investor focused on East Africa, is pleased to announce its investment in Irrisol Engineering (“Irrisol”). Irrisol is a water infrastructure company providing safe, reliable and affordable water to underserved rural and peri-urban communities in Uganda through solar-powered water systems.
Founded in 2017 by water and irrigation engineer Joash Bwambale, Irrisol designs, builds and operates solar-powered water mini-grids across Western Uganda. The systems deliver water directly to households and community taps, combining solar-powered pumps with consumption-based billing and mobile-money payments to make access to water more reliable and affordable.
Across Uganda, access to safe and reliable water remains a significant challenge, particularly in rural communities. Many households continue to rely on distant water sources, with women and children often bearing the burden of travelling long distances to collect water. At the same time, many existing rural water systems struggle with long-term functionality due to inadequate maintenance, poor infrastructure design and limited sustainable financing models.
Irrisol is addressing these challenges through a commercially sustainable approach to rural water infrastructure. Before developing a system, the company conducts feasibility studies to assess the sustainability of water sources. Once operational, systems are regularly inspected and maintained, while consumption-based billing and mobile-money payments support efficient revenue collection and long-term operations.
The company operates a hybrid business model. Alongside its community water mini-grids, Irrisol designs and installs standalone solar-powered water systems for schools, hospitals, businesses and households. This combination of contracting and recurring utility revenues enables the company to build a financially sustainable business while extending essential water infrastructure to underserved communities.
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 Irrisol as it strengthens its operations and expands its network of community water mini-grids, enabling more households to access reliable water close to home. The investment also aligns closely with DOB Equity’s focus on water and sanitation, one of our three core investment pillars, supporting locally developed and commercially viable solutions that improve access to essential services while strengthening communities’ resilience to climate-related water challenges.
Cikü Mugambi, Investment Director at DOB Equity, said:
“Joash is exactly the type of founder we back: a local entrepreneur solving a problem he lived himself. Balancing commercial returns with genuine impact is never easy, but Joash has cracked this with water minigrids and standalone systems embedded directly in rural communities, paired with pay-as-you-go plans that align payments with household incomes and make clean water genuinely accessible. More than 400 million Africans still lack access to safe drinking water, and we're proud to support Joash with capital and hands-on partnership as he takes this model across Uganda and beyond.”
Joash Bwambale, Founder and CEO of Irrisol Engineering, said:
“I believe access to reliable water should not depend on where someone lives or how much they earn. Irrisol’s journey has been about proving that sustainable, financially viable rural water systems are possible and that communities can be served with dignity while building infrastructure that lasts. Partnering with DOB Equity gives us the capital, expertise and long-term partnership we need to replicate our model in more communities across Uganda. Together, we have an opportunity to demonstrate that rural water infrastructure can be both an essential public service and a sustainable enterprise, ultimately bringing reliable, affordable water to millions more people.”
Beyond improving access to safe water, Irrisol’s systems have the potential to support broader economic activity within the communities they serve. The company is exploring productive uses of water, including irrigation and fish farming, which can strengthen local food systems, improve livelihoods and build greater resilience in rural communities.
About Irrisol Engineering
Founded in Uganda in 2017, Irrisol Engineering designs, builds and operates solar-powered water infrastructure serving households, communities and institutions. Its community mini-grid systems combine solar pumping, consumption-based metering and mobile-money payments to provide reliable and affordable access to water. Irrisol currently operates across Western Uganda and is expanding its network of community water systems across the country.
About DOB Equity
DOB Equity is a family-backed impact investor supporting transformative businesses across East Africa. With a focus on sustainable food systems, energy and water and sanitation services, DOB Equity invests patient capital in innovative and scalable businesses that deliver measurable social, environmental and economic impact.
Beyond capital, DOB Equity supports entrepreneurs through strategic guidance, governance expertise and access to networks, helping businesses scale sustainably and maximise their long-term impact.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Victoria Musembi
Victoria@dobequity.nl
DOB Equity