In much of Africa, Uganda included, there are no pipes running from the local water company to each home. The majority of the population gets their water at a village tap and carries it home every day in "Jerry cans" such as these. This of course depends on if there is a tap of some sort; it is a well - called a bore hole here- which has probably been dug/drilled by a mission agency or a non-profit group here to minister by bringing water to every village. But so many village still don't have water and people walk for miles to get theirs. Why do they live where there is no water? Land is at a premium and if you inherit or buy it, you stay to protect it and try to make a living from it somehow. So the "cost" of walking for an hour or more of the day to bring water home is relative. Yes, even in Kampala with 2.8 million people, many, MANY people have to carry water to their homes. My home has water MOST days, for which I am VERY thankful.