Performance Report for FY 2009/10 - UWASNET

Performance Report for FY 2009/10
6.2.3 Vulnerable household and the ‘no subsidy’ policy
In many communities across the country, there exist vulnerable households characterised by
the very low or no household income, the elderly, single parent families and families where
children are heads of households as a result of the AIDS scourge or as a result of having lost
their parents during the insurgency or any other tragedies. Often these households have no
capacity to construct sanitation facilities as in a traditional pit latrine, the lowest acceptable
level of human excreta disposal facility. This presents a major problem given the GoU policy of
zero subsidy for household sanitation. This is an area which needs to be examined critically
by MWE, MoH, District Local Governments and NGOS. It should be tabled as an issue for the
National Sanitation Working Group (see Case Study 6.2; Targeting the vulnerable)
6.2.4 Low priority for sanitation
Sanitation continues to receive low priority at all levels with inadequate budget allocations
and financing mechanisms. Development of sanitation related ordinances and by-laws and
enforcement of existing laws and regulations is still inadequate at all levels. Existing laws and
regulation remain largely unknown. Campaigns have been conducted urging political leaders to
place sanitation and hygiene improvement on the priority list (see Case Study 6.3).
6.2.5 Financing rainwater harvesting
Domestic rainwater harvesting requires a hard roof, and finance. This has been a major
challenge in the roll out of these technologies, specially reaching the poor. There are no micro
finance options available to households to purchase a RWH tank (other than Crestank- Finca).
As in agriculture where farmers receive soft loans to conduct farming activities, households
should be able to access soft loans to improve their access safe water and sanitation facilities
given the economic benefits that accrue there from.
6.2.6 Framework for cooperation between CSO and MoWE not
operationalised
A framework for cooperation between CSO and MoWE was developed by the MoWE in consultation
with CSOs. The framework set out modalities of cooperation between CSO and the MoWE and
clarifies on how CSO may work with local governments to deliver Water and sanitation services.
This framework however has not been operationalised as much as it has not been widely
disseminated among stakeholders (district local governments and CSOs) leaving ambiguities
in CSOs and LG relationships.
6.2.7 Inadequate reporting by CSO
Inadequate reporting and the associated lack of transparency and accountability remain a
challenge. Research-based reporting by most CSOs remains a challenge. This calls for capacity
building of CSOs and to interest CSOs to invest in research work. CSOs should strive for Quality
Assurance Mechanism (QuAM) to be credible and accountable (see Box 6.2). NGOs and CBOs
play the role of watchdog, monitoring the services of government and calling for transparency
and accountability. To effectively play this role CSOs need to be accountable and transparent.
NGOs in the Ugandan Water and Sanitation Sector | 74