In the Lake Bunyonyi region of Uganda, a significant portion of food is homegrown. Even for those living close to the lake, the steep terrain surrounding it makes collecting water for the crops an arduous task. The Global Livingston Institute (GLI) works with people in the region to increase sustainability and efficiency in their farming practices. A UCCS mechanical engineering senior design team was enlisted by GLI to develop small-scale irrigation systems that can be implemented by people in the region. The team was to design and construct such a system at GLI’s model farm and generate a manual that could be used by the local people to construct their own systems. Beyond advancing sustainable farming practices and improving quality of life in the Lake Bunyonyi region, the team hoped to gain a better understanding of such practices themselves. They shared these learnings with the UCCS community in the forms of a presentation and a permanent on-campus display, tentatively located near the food storage unit designed by a previous GAF-funded, GLI-sponsored, MAE design team. To understand the cultural, environmental, and technical aspects and impacts of the project, the team planned to travel to Uganda. While there, the team performed site surveys, analyze the local environment and ecology, and most importantly, talk to and work with locals to understand their struggles and needs. Time was also taken to reflect on the differences between Uganda and Colorado, with emphasis on resource availability, use, and sustainment.