Bushenyi man assembles earth brick machine
Jun 05, 2005
Since he began manufacturing earth brick compressing machines using metals bought from Kampala, Abel Ahimbisibwe has become immensely popular in Bushenyi.
By Joe Nam
Since he began manufacturing earth brick compressing machines using metals bought from Kampala, Abel Ahimbisibwe has become immensely popular in Bushenyi.
At market price, the machine is valued at sh1.5m. Ahimbisibwe works with Rukararwe Partnership for Rural Development (Rukarare Project).
“I was in primary seven when I first heard about Rukararwe Project. We were invited for seminars about environment protection. That was in 1987. We were also told that we could become members of the project and be trained in a vocation of our choice,†Ahimbisibwe said.
“There were many options –– bee-keeping, carpentry, agro-forestry and others. Since my father was a metal worker, I also chose blacksmithing. I then joined St Benedict Secondary School, Bushenyi. During the holidays, I was working here to get some money.â€
Ahimbisibwe later joined Uganda Technical College in Bushenyi. The project started paying his tuition fees. In 1998, Nyine Bitahwa, the Rukararwe Project Director, took him to Germany for a three-month study tour. In 2000, he went back to Germany to study metal work for one-and-half years and graduated with an Advanced Certificate in Metal Work.
“In 2003, I went to France for two months with colleagues from Uganda Technical College Bushenyi.
He says the benefit of studying abroad is, there are all the facilities you need.
“I also learnt the importance of time management. I am now a very busy person and people are very interested in this machine,†he says.
“When we came back, I started planning how to make this machine. After many trials, we were successful.â€
Ahimbisibwe says the machine can produce 800 bricks in 10 hours with manpower of eight people. It takes Ahimbisibwe two weeks to complete one machine. “I have made five of them so far.â€
He says he earns close to sh1m in a month from his job at Rukararwe and other businesses. Ahimbisibwe is married with two children.
l What is a Brick Compressing Machine?
The machine produces bricks for construction of walls houses, roofing and arches. The bricks are cost-effective and environmentally-friendly. Compressed earth bricks can be used to construct buildings going up to three storeys.
The earth bricks are manufactured by compacting earth, mixed with a stabiliser like cement or lime under a pressure of 20 - 40 kg/cm2.
The main parts of an earth brick compressing machine are; the handle, soil compartment, stand, joints and chains that make the manual operation of compression functional.
Ahimbisibwe came up with the idea of the brick compressing machine as a result of the need to produce earth bricks and blocks for an on-going project to popularise the use of earth brick technology in Bushenyi.
Ahimbisibwe’s machine is not a duplicate of any particular brand of brick pressing machine on the market. Earth compressing machines are especially important for a developing country like Uganda which requires the use of labour intensive and intermediate technology to produce building materials. The cost of a block depends upon a variety of factors including quality and price of available soil, amount of stabilisation, labour productivity equipment and overhead costs. The degree of stabilisation has the maximum influence on the cost of the brick. It is estimated that there are less than 200 brick presses currently in use in Uganda.
Ends
Since he began manufacturing earth brick compressing machines using metals bought from Kampala, Abel Ahimbisibwe has become immensely popular in Bushenyi.
At market price, the machine is valued at sh1.5m. Ahimbisibwe works with Rukararwe Partnership for Rural Development (Rukarare Project).
“I was in primary seven when I first heard about Rukararwe Project. We were invited for seminars about environment protection. That was in 1987. We were also told that we could become members of the project and be trained in a vocation of our choice,†Ahimbisibwe said.
“There were many options –– bee-keeping, carpentry, agro-forestry and others. Since my father was a metal worker, I also chose blacksmithing. I then joined St Benedict Secondary School, Bushenyi. During the holidays, I was working here to get some money.â€
Ahimbisibwe later joined Uganda Technical College in Bushenyi. The project started paying his tuition fees. In 1998, Nyine Bitahwa, the Rukararwe Project Director, took him to Germany for a three-month study tour. In 2000, he went back to Germany to study metal work for one-and-half years and graduated with an Advanced Certificate in Metal Work.
“In 2003, I went to France for two months with colleagues from Uganda Technical College Bushenyi.
He says the benefit of studying abroad is, there are all the facilities you need.
“I also learnt the importance of time management. I am now a very busy person and people are very interested in this machine,†he says.
“When we came back, I started planning how to make this machine. After many trials, we were successful.â€
Ahimbisibwe says the machine can produce 800 bricks in 10 hours with manpower of eight people. It takes Ahimbisibwe two weeks to complete one machine. “I have made five of them so far.â€
He says he earns close to sh1m in a month from his job at Rukararwe and other businesses. Ahimbisibwe is married with two children.
l What is a Brick Compressing Machine?
The machine produces bricks for construction of walls houses, roofing and arches. The bricks are cost-effective and environmentally-friendly. Compressed earth bricks can be used to construct buildings going up to three storeys.
The earth bricks are manufactured by compacting earth, mixed with a stabiliser like cement or lime under a pressure of 20 - 40 kg/cm2.
The main parts of an earth brick compressing machine are; the handle, soil compartment, stand, joints and chains that make the manual operation of compression functional.
Ahimbisibwe came up with the idea of the brick compressing machine as a result of the need to produce earth bricks and blocks for an on-going project to popularise the use of earth brick technology in Bushenyi.
Ahimbisibwe’s machine is not a duplicate of any particular brand of brick pressing machine on the market. Earth compressing machines are especially important for a developing country like Uganda which requires the use of labour intensive and intermediate technology to produce building materials. The cost of a block depends upon a variety of factors including quality and price of available soil, amount of stabilisation, labour productivity equipment and overhead costs. The degree of stabilisation has the maximum influence on the cost of the brick. It is estimated that there are less than 200 brick presses currently in use in Uganda.
Ends