DETERMINANTS OF ACCESS TO IMPROVED WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE IN UGANDA. CASE STUDY: NAMATALA URBAN INFORMAL SETTLEMENT.

Abstract

Water, sanitation and hygiene facilities play a vital role in promoting sustainable development, improving public health, and enhancing community well-being. In developing countries including Uganda, a rapid urbanization rate has led to most o people migrating to cities in search of the economic (employment), investment and educational opportunities. This has led to rapid increment and development of urban informal settlements which is characterized by poor infrastructure, inadequate access to clean and safe water, poor/dilapidated water sanitation facilities, obsolete poverty, inadequate wastes management, inadequate social amenities and overcrowding. The lack of access to improved water sanitation and hygiene has directly and indirectly impacted most of the urban slum dwellers health, well-being and socio-economic levels. Notably, most of the urban slum dwellers suffer from water-borne diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery, acute respiratory disorders, and skin infections, due to use and contact with contaminated water, poor hygiene practices and facilities, limited access to basic WASH services, and inadequate housing. Additionally, slum dwellers have very low level of awareness and information about illness and WASH practices, which has led to poor health and dangerous protective behaviour. Therefore, this research assessed the current WASH conditions in Namatala urban slum, determining WASH accessibility and reliability rates, possible barriers to accessing improved WASH and proposed policy options to be implemented in Namatala urban slum in order to improve WASH in the area. Using random sampling method, a total of 160 households from the 24,123 were selected and interviewed during the study. Also, from purposive sampling, 34 key informants participated in the interviews and focused group discussions. Data was collected using structured household questionnaires, focused group discussions and field investigations, and was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). From the results, (72% [115/160]) households have access to a sufficient quantity of water. (54% [87/160]) of the households use pipe water system while (33% [53/160]), (4% [6/160]), (4% [6/160]) and (5% [8/160]) use borehole, open well (springs and hand dug wells), stream (river Namatala) and water vendors as drinking water sources respectively. (43% [49/115]) households have unreliable water supply due to mechanical problems/failures experienced in the form of pump failures, pipe repairs and replacements a system bursts/leakages are the main factors households identified. In regards to sanitation, there were toilet facilities found in Namatala urban slum, 59 private (unshared toilet facilities)

and 24 shared toilet facilities. (54% [87/160]) households have access a VIP/pit latrine with slab while (19% [34/160]) households have a pit latrine without a slab/open pit. The survey also shows that very few households have improved sanitation facility. Notably, only (14% [22/160]) households have a flush/pour flush pit latrine while (11% [18/160]) households had flush to septic tank. Only (1% [2/160]) flush to the sewer/drainage channel their fecal matter. Only (46% [38/83]) of the toilet facilities had hand washing facilities. Tipping taps made from jerrycans were the common had washing facilities installed aside of the toilet facilities. Hand washing behaviour recorded was low as only (58% [92/160]) households wash hands after visiting the toilet facility. The area also lacked a conventional sewer system for wastewater hence residents used open channels, and open gullies as sewer lines. Using household questionnaires and focused group discussions, the study identified inadequate improved WASH facilities, limited access to safe drinking water supply, occurrence of climate change events, limited funding in the WASH sector, inadequate knowledge on the use and management of healthy WASH practices, and ineffective local community involvement in the planning and implementation as the main possible barriers hindering access to improved WASH services/facilities. These were attributed to limited space/fragmented land ownership low economic levels, and WASH funding gap, that have not favored the development of WASH in Namatala urban slum. To avert this, there is a need to upgrade and expand the current WASH infrastructure/ program in the area, Mbale City council authority to increase their lobbying for WASH funding through Grants and Loans, inclusive planning and implementation of the WASH facilities between the community and the responsible stakeholders Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programs, development and implementation of National and District WASH Investment Plans, policies and Acts for informal settlements, and enhancing awareness on basic WASH practices among the slum dwellers, and implementing integrated waste management in Namatala urban slum.