Sub-counties in Uganda's Kabarole District are excited about the potential of their new water and sanitation boards. But without financing, how can that potential be realised?
Published on: 01/08/2012
Development officer Grace Katusabe, secretary to the Busoro Sub-county Water and Sanitation Board in Kabarole District, is enthusiastic about the Board's potential to strengthen services but is frustrated at some of the obstacles to progress.
She points out that they can focus solely on water and sanitation, and work closely with community bodies. "We train the water user committees; we encourage them to contribute the user fees,” she says. “We sensitise them about hygiene and sanitation and on the bylaws governing water users, how much households contribute and what can be done if someone does not contribute.”
Although Katusabe is optimistic about making a difference to water services in her area, she says that the newly-formed water boards have been held back by lack of resources, to the extent that they cannot provide transport for members to travel to villages or meetings or lunch when they arrive.
Katusabe explains: “We have a work plan but the sub-county does not have the budget to facilitate that work plan. It is just there and nothing is done. We are supposed to have quarterly sittings where we review what we have done, but those don’t take place. Board members have to walk long distances in the sub-county so we don’t sit.”
With support from Triple-S, the board conducted training for water point committees, using community score cards that highlight strengths and weaknesses and encourage community members to take part in joint action planning. Katusabe says that this has made a difference, but there is still a long way to go.
“There is an improvement at some water points but the majority of water source committees are inactive because it is voluntary work and they are not paid anything. However much as we try to revitalise them, they don’t do what they are supposed to do,”
Katusabe believes that the sub-county board will be transformed if the work plan can be funded. She wants to see refresher training for members and exchange visits to other sub-counties so that they can learn about good practice.
The neighbouring Buheesi Sub-county Water and Sanitation Board started work in May 2012 and made a lot of progress until a landslide in the mountains last November severely damaged the gravity flow piped scheme. Repairs were only completed in May 2013, during which time users did not pay any fees, and the water board did not hold any meetings.
The board’s chairperson, Kedres Asiimwe, says that they became stuck in a loop, since they cannot improve services or finances unless they meet and visit communities, but they cannot do that without money. Lack of transport is one of the major challenges. Kedres explains: “I live eight kilometres from the sub-county headquarters. If there is any problem on the tap stand I need to come here and go to another parish, to see what the problem is. Going to the source is also a challenge as it is swampy and members make say they cannot go as they do not have gumboots. I go with the scheme attendant and sometimes the community development officer because we are keen to serve the people.”
She adds that members sacrifice time away from their smallholdings to attend meetings and need transport and lunch. “As a new water board, we don’t yet have that money to meet these costs,” she says.
![Kedres Asiimwe, chairperson of Buheesi Sub-county Water and Sanitation Board: "As a water board we have to hope that we can educate the water users about the importance of paying their fees for the functionality of the system."](/var/triples/storage/images/media/images/kedres_asiimwe/23942-1-eng-GB/kedres_asiimwe_medium.jpg "Kedres Asiimwe, chairperson of Buheesi Sub-county Water and Sanitation Board: "As a water board we have to hope that we can educate the water users about the importance of paying their fees for the functionality of the system."")
The sub-county pays the gravity pipe scheme attendant UgShs 100,000 (about US$ 40) a month and UgShs 50,000 to the source caretaker. Users are supposed to contribute UgShs 30,000 a month per tapstand and UgShs 5,000 a month for a private connection. However, because of breakdowns and because the piped scheme does not reach all the taps, many refuse to pay.
Asiimwe says that 12 of the 43 taps are dry because of low pressure. “At the beginning they received water but people made illegal pipe connections downstream. We are planning to call those households for a meeting to discuss the problem. Those who refuse to cooperate will be disconnected.”
Since the board started work, the taps are cleaner and more households pay fees, but the Board’s bank account has no money. Assiimwe was planning to explain to community members why it is important for users to pay. “People refuse because they think that when the money comes to the sub-county, it will be used for other things. If we explain to them that that money will be used to help them when they have a problem they will change their minds and pay.”
She wants to go further and raise the fees to cover the costs. However, with a community that is already not paying, this looks to be a tough task. “As a water board we have to hope that we can educate the water users about the importance of paying their fees for the functionality of the system,” she says.
The water boards are grappling with the issue of what to do about non-payment.
James Mpanga, chief of Buheesi sub-county says that the board and the user committees need to develop greater powers of persuasion, but that there should be a stick as well as a carrot.
“The sub-county water board members need skills in mobilisation so as to convince the majority of the population who are using water and are uncooperative. If people fail to pay then there should be a punishment. In extreme cases the sub-county will send the policeman to make them pay.” Mpanga says that this step was taken twice in the previous six months.
In Busoro sub-county, where there is no gravity scheme, households using hand pump water points pay just UgShs 200 (8 US cents) a month, but some still refuse to contribute. Grace Katusabe says, “We have the power to fine a household, but we would rather create awareness and a positive attitude. Board members are visiting households and explaining why they need to pay.”
![James Mpanga, chief of Buheesi sub-county: "The sub-county water board members need skills in mobilisation so as to convince the majority of the population who are using water and are uncooperative."](/var/triples/storage/images/media/images/james_mpanga/23951-1-eng-GB/james_mpanga_medium.jpg "James Mpanga, chief of Buheesi sub-county: "The sub-county water board members need skills in mobilisation so as to convince the majority of the population who are using water and are uncooperative."")
Kicwamba sub-county chief executive, Gladys Kwiocwiny, said that it is difficult to enforce the rules since there are several taps that are available all the time and people can travel to one of these to fetch water without payment. Like her colleagues, she sees the need to encourage communities but also sees a need for sanctions when that fails. “There are supposed to be bylaws and they need enforcement,” she said.
The Uganda Commissioner for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Engineer Aaron Kabirizi, says that greater transparency would make it easier for sub-counties and water users to collect the money. Speaking on a visit to Kabarole, he urged the water board members not to wait for people to ask what had been done with their contributions. “Show them how the money has been spent and then you have the moral authority to ask them for more.”
There is optimism about what the water and sanitation boards at sub-county level will achieve, once financial problems have been resolved. A report from Pius Mugabi, the District Water Officer for Kabarole, and Jane Nabunnya, Triple-S Uganda Country Coordinator, highlighted positive development in the district. They include the following:
Peter McIntyre
