Improving water and sanitation conditions for Kampala’s urban poor
By George Yap, Program Director

Following a prolonged period of upheaval, the last 20 years has been a time of remarkable achievement for Uganda, who now enjoys one of the strongest economies in sub-Saharan Africa. However, widespread poverty remains a major challenge.  With one of the lowest water and sanitation coverage rates in the world, barely half the population has easy access to clean drinking water.  One in five Ugandans cannot access some kind of toilet.  As a result, the inability to properly dispose of human waste is one of the major causes of water pollution.

Kampala, home to more than one million Ugandans, is an attractive city that sprawls over seven hills; the tops of which are home to the wealthy and connected. The poor live in informal settlements (slums) in the flood prone low-lying areas.  Because these areas are informal (not planned), and fragmented, the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure is particularly challenging for the local public water utility.  High connection costs, and high prices charged by private or third party vendors, make it difficult for poor residents to access clean drinking water.

A typical neighbourhood in Lubaga's informal settlements

In 2005, WaterCan began working with a local non-governmental organization called Community Integrated Development Initiatives (CIDI) to help bring clean water to residents living in Kampala’s informal settlements. In Kampala’s western area, Lubaga Division was identified as a high priority. 

With an estimated population of 300,000, Lubaga is one of the city’s most densely populated areas. Most residents earn less than a dollar a day and suffer from poor living conditions, poor health, and lack of access to basic social services. The HIV/AIDs epidemic has hit the community hard; orphaning over 20,000 local children. While about half the households have access to piped water, the municipal water network often experiences low water pressure, impacting supply. As a result, the poorest households commonly fetch water from other sources including unprotected wells and distant springs.

To address the situation, WaterCan and CIDI initiated a water and sanitation project to assist residents of three of Lubaga Division’s most disadvantaged parishes – Kasubi, Nakulabye, and Nateete. Preliminary sensitization and mobilization meetings were carried out with local leaders and residents; helping to identify locally appropriate water supply and sanitation technology options and facility locations. Local leaders, including councillors representing all 13 parishes of Lubaga Division, received training in planning, budgeting and resource mobilization. Good cooperation with local officials ensured that the project proceeded smoothly and without delay.

Residents of Lubaga meet to tackle the community’s water and sanitation problems.

Improving residents’ access to clean drinking water
Drawing on the community consultation results, several hundred metres of high-pressure water lines were laid, connecting two newly constructed water kiosks to the main municipal water supply network.  Each water kiosk has two taps and is managed by an attendant who collects water fees and keeps the facility clean and properly maintained. Each night before closing, the attendant reads the water meter to ensure that the day’s water fees match the volume of water sold, and later, the monthly water bill sent by the municipality.

During a recent visit to Lubaga, I had the pleasure of officially opening one of these kiosks.  As we walked around the neighbourhood, Mrs. Alice Zalwango, the Councillor for Nakulabye Parish, told me how the project helped the community come together. From women and children, I learned that the kiosks significantly reduce the time and distance required to fetch water and help alleviate the large queues at existing water-points.  Previously, people paid 100 Uganda Shillings (USh) ($0.06) to fill a 20-litre jerry can; today, residents can purchase three jerry cans of water for the same price.  While the poorest residents still favour a pay-as-you-go method, households now have the option of a monthly user fee. With water more affordable and accessible, residents are able to keep their homes cleaner and bathe and wash clothes more frequently.  Small businesses such as restaurants and shops without water connections also benefit from the local water sources.

Previously, people paid 100 Uganda Shillings (USh) ($0.06) to fill a 20-litre jerry can; today, residents can purchase three jerry cans of water for the same price.

While the community’s contribution of subsidized labour resulted in significant savings, one of the project’s most challenging aspects was getting local landlords to allow feeder pipes on their property free of charge.

Residents help dig trenches for water feeder pipes.

Improving local environmental sanitation conditions

The challenges in Lubaga are made worse by the general lack of sanitation facilities and information on good hygiene practices. The absence or inadequacy of toilet facilities makes environmental conditions in some areas appalling. Not surprisingly, outbreaks of typhoid, dysentery and even cholera are common.

To address this, CIDI promoted two types of sanitation technologies in Lubaga. In Nakulabye Parish, a six-stall ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine block with bathing rooms was constructed.  In another area prone to seasonal flooding, an aboveground four-stall “eco-san” composting toilet block, also with bathing rooms, was constructed.  After holding several meetings, the community decided to set a user fee at 100 USh (~ $0.06) per visit, or a monthly flat fee of 3,000 to 5,000 USh (~ $1.80 to $3.00) depending on the size of the household. To facilitate the management and operation of the sanitation services, households were assigned a specific stall in the block.

A community "ecosan" toilet block nears completion

A water kiosk attendant sells water to local residents in Lubaga

The construction of water supply and sanitation facilities constitutes one of the easier aspects of the project. Ensuring that community members have the necessary organization and skills to sustain the facilities without WaterCan and CIDI’s involvement is a much more complex challenge. At each site, five respected community members; at least two of whom are women, were selected and trained as User Committees to ensure proper operation and maintenance.  These committees are in turn integrated into local governmental planning bodies, further ensuring the project’s long-term effectiveness.

During the meetings, residents frequently discussed garbage-related issues.  One key problem identified was the indiscriminate disposal of waste and the resultant clogging of drainage channels and stagnant pools of polluted water. To help alleviate flooding problems in Nateete Parish, residents were organized into work groups and provided with wheel barrows and hand tools such as shovels, rakes and hoes to de-clog drainage channels. However, in greater Lubaga, efforts to address waste problems have been hampered by the lack of garbage skips in the area. Unfortunately, even if more skips were available, the inconsistency of municipal garbage collection services discourages residents from offering land for the skips. Some households have attempted to earn a living by using solid waste to make and sell charcoal briquettes for cooking, as a cheaper alternative to fuel wood or paraffin.

Promoting good hygiene practices in Lubaga
To help promote good personal hygiene practices, a series of community workshops were organized.  Over 1,000 residents learned key messages such as the importance of hand washing after going to the toilet and before handling food; making sure containers used to collect and store drinking water are kept clean; and keeping open water covered. Various training methods were used including skits, music and poems. To support hygiene outreach activities in the wider community, 35 local residents (75% of whom were women) were provided with additional training to conduct community education sessions. In Nakulabye Parish, local community health workers mobilized residents to raise 150,000 USh (~$90) to empty the only existing public toilet.  In Nateete Parish, community health workers have been able to encourage many local families to ensure they have proper drinking water storage facilities in their homes.

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