Everyone Forever: Kamwenge District, Uganda
Straddling the equator on the East African plateau, Uganda
shares borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya,
Rwanda, Sudan, and Tanzania. The south of the country is
heavily influenced by one of the world's biggest lakes, Lake
Victoria, which contains many islands and is shared by Uganda
with Kenya and Tanzania. Lying almost completely within the
Nile basin, Uganda is home to approximately 35 million people
of many different ethnic groups, none of whom forms a
majority of the population. Approximately 1.7 million people
live in Kampala, the nation’s capital. The official languages are
English and Swahili, although forty different languages are
known to be spoken. For decades Uganda’s economy suffered
from instability and conflict, but the country’s recent economic
reforms and vast natural resources have resulted in optimism
about the future. Still though, Uganda has one of the lowest per capita incomes in the world. Uganda's
Human Development Index is 0.446, which gives the country a rank of 161 out of 187 countries with
comparable data1. Published coverage rates for access to improved water sources are widely disputed,
but indicate 72% have access to safe water and 34% have access to improved sanitation2.
One of 112 districts in Uganda, Kamwenge District is located in the Western Region of Uganda, and is
part of the Kingdom of Toro, one of the ancient traditional monarchies in Uganda. Covering an area of
2,410 km2, the district has two counties with fifteen sub-counties as well as one town council and has an
official population of 317,000, however recent surveys suggest the population now exceeds 400,000.
Most of the district lies in the Lake Edward Catchment. The main river in this catchment is the Mpanga
River, which flows into Lake George. Parts of the northeast of the district lie in the Lake Victoria
Catchment, draining to the southwest into the Katonga River. The largest water body in the district is
the eastern portion of Lake George. There are wetlands around Lake George and along river valleys (14%
of the district area).
1
Human Development Index, 2011
Joint Monitoring Programme, UNICEF/WHO
2
1
The predominant ethnic group in the district is Batoro; however, there is a sizable Bakiga population in
the district. Kamwenge is predominantly a rural district with some of the worst poverty levels in the
country, and does not have a hospital. Agriculture is the mainstay of the district economy. Crops raised
include sorghum, maize, millet, peas, tea, coffee, cotton, pineapples, and groundnuts. There is also
some fishing in the district, including for commercial purposes. There are numerous wetlands, tropical
forests, national parks, and wildlife reserves in the
district.
According to government statistics, 88% of the
population of Kamwenge has access to safe water,
but this is widely debated. The calculations are
based on population figures per water technology
and do not consider the distances to the water
points. In March 2013, Water For People-Uganda
led a mapping exercise using Akvo FLOW which
revealed that over 80% of water points are
improved water systems, but only 59% of the
population had access to these water points.
According to this survey, Kamwenge District has a
total of 2,130 water points. The most common
Kamwenge District Map
water supply technology is the shallow well (698).
There are 118 deep wells. Many of these wells are fitted with India Mark II hand pumps. The district
has 12 piped water supply systems (10 gravity-fed and 2 pumped) serving approximately 25% of the
total population. A total of 669 taps on these systems were mapped. There are also 166 rainwater
harvesting tanks of at least 6,000 liter capacity, and 479 protected springs. The total number of
functional water points was 1,291, while 836 were not functional and three had been abandoned.
Families who do not have access to improved water points take water from surface water sources such
as unprotected springs, ponds, or rivers.
While Water For People has not completed a sanitation baseline in the district, official statistics suggest
access to improved sanitation facilities in Kamwenge is approximately 71%; this number includes shared
toilets and non-permanent structures. Agriculture fields or unimproved pit latrines are commonly used
for defecation. Only two villages had been declared open defecation free as of June 20123. Of the 326
schools in the district, most lack access adequate water and sanitation facilities. The pupil: latrine ratio
in Kamwenge primary schools is 58:1, which is higher than the standard guideline of 40:1. The Sector
Performance Report (2012) showed that access to handwashing facilities among households was only
24%. There are 48 health units in the district, very few of which have adequate water and sanitation
facilities.
3
Ministry of Water and Environment-Sector Performance report (2012)
2
Water For People in Kamwenge
Water For People began work
in Uganda in September 2008,
building relationships with the
government
and
local
development organizations and
learning about water and
sanitation needs. Working in
partnership
with
local
governments in the districts of
Kyenjojo,
Mukono,
and
Kamwenge, Water For People–
Uganda strives to provide
sustainable access to improved
water and sanitation facilities. Sanitation as a Business programming is also being promoted, primarily in
Kampala which is the center of government and location of the Water For People country office, but
also in small towns such as Jinja.
In 2011, Water For People began to develop plans to achieve Everyone Forever in Kamwenge, which was
selected due primarily to a comparative analysis showing its high vulnerability and dire development
indicators including water and sanitation coverage. The district is relatively large and rural, and some
communities are very isolated. Food security is another persistent issue faced by those living in
Kamwenge.
Lasting water and sanitation solutions can only be achieved when local role-players—the private sector,
civil society, and local government—are supported. Water For People’s key partners in Kamwenge
include the district and sub-county local governments (water, education and health departments), the
Mid-Western Umbrella, Kamwenge Hand Pump Mechanics Association, private operators, and local
NGOs. Although Water For People-Uganda expects to achieve Everyone in the entire district, the initial
focus will be in Biguli sub-county which is one administrative area of the district with a total population
of approximately 33,229. This location was selected in partnership with the district because it has the
lowest access to water coverage and is suitable for market-based approaches.
Reaching Everyone Forever: The Programming
Water For People-Uganda’s goal in Kamwenge is to reach full water and sanitation coverage and ensure
mechanisms are in place so the services last. Specific objectives include:
 Increase water supply coverage to 100% in a period of 5 years.
 Increase over time sanitation coverage to 100% using several different approaches including
sanitation marketing, community-led total sanitation, and participatory hygiene and sanitation
transformation (PHAST).
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Establish and test private operator management models through public-private partnerships.
Develop and test metered hand pumps to enhance opportunities for alternative management
models
Increase water and sanitation coverage in schools and full-time health centers to 100%.
Establish Akvo FLOW monitoring platform at district government, and encourage district
monitoring of all water points at least annually.
Promote hygiene behavior change through education and promotion activities in communities
and especially in schools.
Water For People–Uganda takes an innovative and sustainable approach to the provision of safe water
and improved sanitation facilities. By emphasizing capacity-building activities, engaging the private
sector and challenging traditional, subsidy-driven approaches, Water For People–Uganda believes
Forever is also possible if appropriate steps are taken as we work towards Everyone in the near term.
These innovative programs include testing sanitation and water as a business models, building publicprivate partnerships and increasing sustainable access to water and sanitation. A discussion of the key
challenges anticipated, and program components designed to address them are as follows.
Drinking Water Access: In the district of Kamwenge, 594% of the population has access to water through
improved water points. The most common water system people access in the district is the shallow
well, but people also collect water from deep boreholes, protected springs, rainwater harvesting tanks,
and piped water supply systems. Of the more than 2,000 public water points in Kamwenge, 836 are
non-functional. To address water access issues in Kamwenge and ensure the systems last over time,
Water For People-Uganda will hold meetings with stakeholders to plan interventions, define roles and
responsibilities for long-term maintenance, select technologies, and establish contributions which will
ensure optimal use of financial resources.
It is anticipated that the initial intervention in Biguli sub-county will include the development of small
piped water supply systems which access groundwater that will be distributed to schools, households
and health centers. These water systems are expected to serve approximately 11,480 people who
currently have limited access to safe drinking water. Building on this experience Water For PeopleUganda will continue to increase water coverage with the people of Kamwenge.
Community/Market-Based Approach to Water Point Maintenance: It is clear that mechanisms for longterm maintenance and repair must be improved to ensure water is flowing for generations and
Kamwenge isn’t plagued by broken water points. Water For People-Uganda is developing alternatives to
water and sanitation committees alone being responsible for water point maintenance. The problem
with solely relying on water committees to provide maintenance is that these volunteer groups are
fragile and deteriorate over time due to families moving in and out, local politics, illness and the lack of
skills transmission and reinforcement. Water For People-Uganda is looking to develop water business
models, where private operators work in partnership with the government to manage and maintain
4
Water For People (2013), Kamwenge Water Point Mapping Report.
4
systems. All water systems supported by Water For People will be managed by private operators who
sign contracts with the sub-county local government committees known as the water authority.
Incentivized by profit potential, private operators will help to ensure that the necessary maintenance
and repair is performed so water is flowing every day. A water board will monitor the performance of
the operator.
After
hand
pump
installation, preventive
maintenance will be
done by caretakers,
while
repairs
that
require disassembling of
hand pump parts are to
be performed by hand
pump mechanics who
play an essential role in
long-term sustainability.
Kamwenge
District
already has many hand
pump mechanics that have been trained and equipped with tools for maintenance of boreholes; the
problems are mostly related to lack of tariff payment by community members for operation and
maintenance, weak spare parts supply chains, and lack of entrepreneurial skills in hand pump
mechanics. Water For People is considering providing support to the hand pump mechanics association
to convert it into a business, and is working with the different sub-county local governments to privatize
maintenance of hand pumps and fix a meter on them. This would be beneficial to the hand pump
mechanics and the local governments to better understand the quantity of water being consumed.
Sustainable Sanitation: Water For People has developed a sustainable sanitation strategy which applies
to its programs globally and fits within the Everyone Forever framework. Sustainable sanitation is
defined as separating and keeping humans separated from their own feces over time. All country
programs are testing market-based approaches to achieve sustainable sanitation, which has as its
outcomes:
 latrines being used continuously by all members of the family
 no significant risk to community health from disposal techniques
 latrine coverage maintained at 100% within a community for a prolonged period (i.e. 25 years)
without external support
 widespread expectation of availability of promoted sanitation products and services outside
directly supported areas
Water For People–Uganda’s sanitation as a business (SAAB) program fully embraces these principles, as
it shifts away from traditional, subsidy-driven sanitation approaches to a business-driven model.
5
Conventional approaches in Uganda suffer because they focus on the toilet; sanitation as a business
focuses on the service, demonstrating that if an entrepreneur develops an ongoing relationship with a
customer, he or she can make a profit. Water For People-Uganda has contracted with the business
development service (BDS) provider Captiva and a team of marketers, who are leading the sanitation
business support process in Uganda. Water For People’s rural SAAB program looks at using the savings
and credit cooperative organizations (SACCO). In partnership with Captiva, we are working with one
SACCO in Kamwenge to provide financing for household sanitation.
WASH in Schools: Education is a universal human right, and Water For People believes that providing
adequate water and sanitation services in schools is fundamental to fulfilling that right. But many
students drink contaminated water in schools, or lack sufficient quantities of water for drinking.
Handwashing before the school lunch and after using toilets and urinals, if there are any, cannot be
practiced. Most schools do not meet the minimum government standards for number of adequate
toilets per student, and lack child-friendly facilities. Poor menstrual hygiene and lack of adequate
facilities cause numerous health hazards among adolescent girls and women.
Sanitation and hygiene conditions, especially in primary schools in Uganda, are a national concern. The
introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) resulted in a rapid increase in the number of children
in the primary schools from 5.3 million in 1997 to 7.6 million in 20045; a trend that has continued in
subsequent years, straining hygiene and sanitation facilities in schools. The pupil: latrine ratio in
primary schools is 58:1, which is significantly higher than the national guideline of 40:1. In Kamwenge,
only about 60% of the schools have access to WASH facilities, which in many cases are deficient.
In 2012 Water For People–Uganda developed the School Water Sanitation and Hygiene (school WASH)
Promotion program to encourage
children to use latrines and
practice good hygiene. Teachers
and children in targeted schools
receive hygiene education using
the PHAST approach. Children are
encouraged to join the school
health club which typically has a
membership of at least 40 pupils.
Water For People − Uganda also
facilitates improved sanitation
facilities in health centers, water point construction in schools and health centers, and hygiene
education sessions in the greater communities with village health teams which emphasize safe storage
and treatment of water at the household level, effective use of sanitation facilities, and handwashing
with soap at critical times.
5
UNICEF, School WASH Baseline survey (2004)
6
Local Capacity for Technical Support and Monitoring: Key to the end of water poverty in Kamwenge is
building the capacity of local governments to provide technical and monitoring support. Water For
People has recently introduced Akvo FLOW (Field Level Operations Watch) – a monitoring tool which
uses mobile phones to collect water and sanitation data and geo-reference them in Google Earth.
Water For People – Uganda will conduct trainings for local government and nongovernmental partners
that focus on building organizational strength – including strategic planning, advocacy, project and
financial management, circuit rider and spare parts shop owner training, and also use of the FLOW
platform. Water For People will also explore the possibility of forming an Everyone Forever committee,
consisting of key stakeholders, to implement monitoring plans, review progress, and generally enhance
understanding of the power of monitoring to increase and maintain water and sanitation coverage.
The District Water Office has been identified as the target to maintain the responsibility for long-term
monitoring and the Akvo FLOW platform in Kamwenge, because of their capacity and permanence. The
district employs a district water officer who has a small team who support the villages. The first
comprehensive mapping exercise of Kamwenge was completed, using Akvo FLOW, in 2013. All mapping
and monitoring results are reviewed by the District Water Office to identify lessons learned, enhance
future activities, and share experiences with other districts. Water For People ensures monitoring of
projects for at least 10 years after completion.
Table 1: Forever - Roles and Responsibilities
Activity
Water point administration, operation,
maintenance
Primary Responsible
Water and Sanitation committees
for preventive maintenance
Others
Private Operators
Hand pump mechanics
Monitoring of usage and functionality of
water points
District Water Office
Water and Sanitation
committees and Users
Installation of water systems in new
District Water Office
communities after Everyone achievement
Ministry of Water and
Environment
Replacement of water systems upon
conclusion of useful life
Ministry of Water and Environment
District Water Office
Replacement of sanitation systems upon
conclusion of useful life
Households
Committee functionality and technical
support
Sub-county local government
District Water Office
Follow up to track behavior change
District Health Department
Ministry of Health + Ministry
of Education
Training and capacity building for all
stakeholders
District Water Office
Directorate of Water
Development, Ministry of
Health, Ministry of Education
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Maintenance and replacement of school
facilities
School Administration with ParentTeacher Association
District Education department
at the District. Ministry of
Education
Everyone Forever: The Costs
Because the objective is to achieve not only Everyone, but also Forever, Water For People leverages
government and community funds to enhance the sense of ownership by the primary stakeholders
which include village members, students, teachers, and district government officials. Full community
water and school and clinic WASH coverage is expected to be accomplished in 2018. Cost estimates,
summarized below and presented by sub-county in Appendix A, have been developed with the district
government and are based upon needs identified through the most recent mapping exercise. The total
infrastructure investment required to reach all families, schools, and clinics of Kamwenge is
approximately $18 million. Of that total, the district government is expected to provide 25%, other
NGO’s will provide approximately 10%, and the national government (Ministry of Water and
Environment) will provide approximately 5%.
A detailed analysis was conducted to determine, village by village, the population not currently served
by improved water sources. The Uganda Water & Sanitation Sub-sectors Sector Strategic investment
Plan (July 2009) provides an estimate of future technology mix for the different regions of Uganda and
establishes an estimate of 2015 per capita investment costs to supply safe drinking water. For
Kamwenge, the future technology mix suggested includes 56% piped schemes, 18% shallow wells, 14%
gravity fed systems, 8% deep boreholes, 4% protected springs, and less than 1% rainwater harvesting.
The per capita investment cost for this mix is estimated at 127,000 Ugandan Shillings ($50.80).
For schools, the same per capita water cost was applied for the student populations, which were
adjusted for the type of school (boarding or day school). The cost of school sanitation was included to
serve the approximately 50% of students who are believed to not currently have access to improved
sanitations in their schools. For clinics, again the same per capita investment cost was applied, but to an
adjusted patient population which accounts for whether the clinic is in-patient or out-patient. The cost
estimate for sanitation at clinics was developed based upon two new toilet blocks needed per clinic.
Table 2: Hardware Cost Breakdown by Source – Kamwenge
Infrastructure
Investment
Community
Water
Comments
Piped systems, shallow wells, bore
wells, and protected springs for
unserved population
School WASH
WASH facilities at 326 schools
Clinic WASH
WASH facilities at 48 health centers
Water For
People
Government and
Other NGO’s
Total
$6,010,303
$4,006,868
$10,017,171
$4,160,458
$2,773,639
$6,934,097
$864,036
$576,024
$1,440,060
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Subtotal
$11,034,797
$7,356,531
$18,391,328
Table 3: Required Support – Kamwenge
Investment
Capacity-Building &
Training
Sustainable Sanitation
Comments
Administration, operation, and maintenance training +
mobile mechanic training + mapping and monitoring
support
WFP role to develop mechanism for families to achieve
Everyone Forever for sanitation in Kamwenge over long
term.
Estimated Annual Cost –
Water For People
$50,000
$100,000
Hygiene Education
For teachers, students, village members
$50,000
Advocacy &
Communications
District level activities
$25,000
In-Country Operations
Salaries, transportation, materials, office and financial
management of Water For People – Uganda
$300,000
Headquarters Support
Water For People Indirect Cost Policy
15% of Direct Costs
Reaching Everyone Forever: 2014
In 2014 Water For People-Uganda is setting the foundation for a significant push towards Everyone
Forever in Kamwenge by strengthening relationships with key stakeholders and beginning joint
investment in water infrastructure with the district government. Results of the initial FLOW mapping
exercise are being shared with all stakeholders so the water and sanitation situation is better
understood. Water For People–Uganda is also continuing to explore and test innovative models for
piloting both water and sanitation businesses. Rapid market assessments of both water and sanitation
markets have taken place and it is expected that several businesses will begin to meet local demand for
services.
Reaching Everyone Forever: Your Role
Water For People estimates that a five-year investment of approximately $16 million will bring
Kamwenge to full water and sanitation coverage. Achieving full coverage is expected to provide the
momentum necessary to eventually achieve full coverage at the national scale. The concept of Everyone
Forever has created optimism at all levels, including the national government. “If Kamwenge can
achieve Everyone Forever, and we believe it can, it should be possible on a national scale,” said Ian
Arebahona of the Ministry of Water and Environment.
At the same time, government officials and community leaders recognize the large investment required.
The district government is prepared to contribute 25% of the total infrastructure investment, despite
severe budget limitations. Please join us, and the people of Kamwenge, by supporting the Everyone
Forever journey.
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APPENDIX A
Reaching Everyone: Kamwenge Community Water Supply
Sub-county
Biguli
Bihanga
Buhanda
Busiriba
Bwiizi
Kahunge
Kambambiro
Kamwenge
Kamwenge TC
Kanara
Kicheche
Mahyoro
Nkoma
Ntara
Nyabani
TOTALS
Unserved Population
28,301
5,057
9,858
20,592
9,614
25,305
10,756
7,902
6,369
5,931
9,368
5,610
26,686
9,657
16,182
197,188
Infrastructure Investment Required
(USD)
1,437,711
256,896
500,786
1,046,074
488,391
1,285,494
546,405
401,422
323,545
301,295
475,894
284,988
1,355,649
490,576
822,046
10,017,171
Reaching Everyone: Kamwenge Schools
Sub-county
Biguli
Bihanga
Buhanda
Busiriba
Bwizi
Kabambiro
Kahunge
Kamwenge
Kamwenge T/C
Kanara
Kicheche
Mahyoro
Nkoma
Ntara
Nyabbani
TOTALS
# of Schools
20
16
19
21
20
16
31
21
25
9
23
16
41
29
19
326
Infrastructure Investment
Required (USD)
440,639
173,778
359,199
479,780
501,635
312,998
646,567
636,727
513,132
186,470
480,156
354,101
881,140
539,415
428,360
6,934,097
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Reaching Everyone: Kamwenge Health Centers
Sub-county
Biguli
Bihanga
Buhanda
Busiriba
Bwizi
Kabambiro
Kahunge
Kamwenge
Kamwenge TC
Kanara
Kicheche
Mahyoro
Nkoma
Ntara
Nyabbani
Totals
Number of Health Centers
Infrastructure Investment Required (USD)
4
3
7
2
4
2
7
4
2
1
1
3
5
1
2
48
107,940
98,100
217,470
65,400
119,370
65,400
221,280
106,670
65,400
32,700
32,700
73,970
146,990
21,270
65,400
1,440,060
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