Steve goes with flow in Africa

Sitting in palatial surroundings at his stunning Cheshire home, Steve Morgan's life is the height of luxury.

But, despite being worth an estimated £450 million, the down-to-earth Wolves owner was more than happy to swap his privileged lifestyle to follow through with his dream of supplying running water to a poverty-stricken African village.

After being scoffed at by fellow entrepreneurs on Channel 4 reality show Millionaires' Mission when he revealed his plan to build water pipes through three deprived communities in Uganda – Steve Morgan has proved them all wrong.

Having just returned from a return trip to see his system in action, the 54-year-old can feel proud that he has truly transformed the lives of thousands of people.

His system comprising of two reservoirs, 13.5km of water pipes, solar powered pumping stations and 70 taps has benefited 4,000 people in Nyakasiru, Karorwa and Bukinda as well as five schools.

"When I went over there the first time with Millionaires' Mission it was exactly this time last year," he said.

"The one thing that came out was the need for running water. I fell out with the other seven entrepreneurs because they couldn't see the reason for water.

"It was taking the locals two to three hours to pick up water and most of them were children that had to do it. They were missing out on education."

The majority of Morgan's system, costing around £110,000, has been funded by his charitable trust the Morgan Foundation.

"The Ugandan people are just lovely," he said.

"They walk around with these big smiles. They really don't know there is anything better and it is amazing how content they are with their lot."

But he was adamant not to let the villagers – and himself – just sit back and let the work take shape around them.

"It's vital that you don't just give, which is why I spoke to the water minister and asked the government to provide the pipes, which they did. We set up the tanks and got the contractors to put in the pipes but the people have to be a part of it."

His mission may be complete in Uganda but for Morgan the anger at his treatment during the reality show which marked the start of the project has far from gone.

"I am so angry about the way that programme made me look," he said. "They portrayed me as the black sheep and the editing was frankly disgusting.

"They actually showed me leaving and then showed a shot of a half-finished potato store as if I'd just abandoned it.

"That is not true at all. I finished that before I left and they just used a shot taken 10 days earlier."

Looking at the water system, Morgan has no regrets that he strayed from the money-spinning hotel idea dreamed up by the other contestants. "It did actually get built," he said.

"We went to see it on the trip but it looks very poorly built and I don't know how long it will last."

It has only been days since he returned to the tranquil grounds of his country house from Africa, but Morgan is already planning another trip. "I will be going back," he said.

"However, I feel it has been mission accomplished there. There is no way that you could say the box is ticked and everything will be great for them because they are still so poor, but this water will do a great deal.

"I would go back to a different part of Africa to see what could be done there."

He is not really one for self-praise, but even Steve Morgan is proud of what he has accomplished.

"I am really proud of what we have achieved," he said. "I don't like self-gratification but when we finished this I said: 'Morgan, you did good'."

The former Redrow Homes boss, who took the trip to Uganda with close friend Dave Edwards, said it wasn't all work and no play on the six-day trip.

"We took over some team kits for the younger children and two more for the secondary school children," he said.

"It was the first time most of them had ever worn a football kit in their lives.

"One set of clothes is all some of them have. We held a mini football tournament with three teams who each played each other and I refereed.

"They're all fans now. While we were driving they were all shouting 'Come On You Wolves' at us."