AfDB funding for water and sanitation in Uganda hits sh786b

WATER AND SANITATION | AfDB

A report by the African Development Bank (AfDB) shows the agency has injected up to $218m (about sh785.9b) to close the water and sanitation services gap in Uganda at the end of September 2017 through loans, line of credit and grants to various projects.

It notes that the interventions have benefited Ugandans with clean drinking water, waste management services, sanitation and hygiene education for communities and reduction of water pollution of water bodies around the country.

"The Bank prides itself in contributing to the improvement in the quality of lives of the people of Africa. The Water and Sanitation Department leads the bank in increasing its development footprint through sustainable, innovative and clean water management initiatives that have made life easier and reduced water borne infections for the people of Uganda," said Gabriel Negatu, AfDB East Africa regional hub director general.

The Kampala Sanitation Programme is one of the earlier projects effected in February 2010 with the objective of improving living conditions of 1.4 million people living in Kampala through enhanced access to better sanitation and environment protection. AfDB through its financial arm, African Development Fund (ADF) approved a loan of $48m.

The financing went into Nakivubo Sewerage System, Lubigi Faecal Sludge Management and Treatment and the Kinawataka Sewerage System. So far, the Nakivubo Wastewater Treatment Plant is 85% complete, while the Kinawataka Wastewater Treatment Plant is 30% complete.

Both projects are expected to be complete by the end of the year. The Nakivubo Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) now boasts of a biogas production capacity of 5,940 m3/day and energy potential of 630KW.

In 2010 AfDB approved funding to implement the Lake Victoria Water Supply and Sanitation Program (LVWATSAN II) in the five East African Community partner states - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. The project's objective is to address pollution of the lake through boosting sustainable water supply and sanitation infrastructure to 15 secondary towns within the Lake Victoria Basin.

In Uganda, the programme target towns are Mayuge, the cluster of Buwama-Kayabwe, Bukakata and Ntungamo. The loan approved by AfDB was of $15.69m.

The project broke ground in 2011 and now Mayuge town Water Supply System (WSS) is serving a target population of 16,104 while Buwama and Kayabwe WSS have a combined target population of 23,043. Ntungamo town WSS is accessed by a target population of 13,658 people and about 6,139 people are benefiting from the Bukakata system. Most of the water systems are complete with the expected date for completion of the remaining projects being December 2017.

The Mayuge town and Ntungamo town WSS were commissioned last year by the Minister of Water and Environment, Professor Ephraim Kamuntu.

The Water Supply and Sanitation Program (WSSP) is the largest and it has phases I and phase II which were commenced in September 2012 and May 2016 respectively. The program is comprised of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation, and Sector Programme Support.

The goal of both WSSP Phase I and II is to contribute to improvement of health and productivity and reduction of epidemic diseases through use of safe water and sanitation services in the Central region towns and rural towns.

Funding for Phase I was $61.46m and $92.78m for Phase II. Funding for Phase I went to the completion of water works in18 new town, rehabilitation of water works in 7 towns, 4,381 new water connections, sewerage system in Kiboga and Nakasongola and Gravity Flow Schemes in Lirima, Bukwo and Bududa.

The Bank also provided Sector Budget Support over a period of 4 financial years 2013-2016 resulting in installation of 3117, 3060,   2450 and 2033 new rural water points.

As a result, the water supply systems in the towns are providing clean safe water to the target population of 241,408. The sanitation facilities in the beneficiary towns have improved access to 9940 people. Bank provided Sector Budget Support over 4 financial years 2013-2016 with an outcome of 716,981; 698,477, 809,368 and 665,352 new rural persons served by new rural water points.

Rural house hold sanitation improved to 79 % while sanitation access to urban communities improved to 84.6% in 2016. Rural access to hand-washing facilities at the toilet increased to 36%.