Provision of Sanitation Solutions to the Kampla Urban Poor The 2007 Water and Sanitation Sector Performance Report estimates the national latrine coverage for Uganda at only 59%. In Kampala City, latrine coverage is currently 70% while the other sanitation systems include septic tanks and connection to the sewerage system that cater for 20% and less than 10% respectively. In Kampala City, while the National Water and Sewerage Corporation(NWSC) has undertaken interventions to improve the sewerage coverage, it is clear that the majority of the premises will remain un connected to the sewer network and therefore onsite sanitation technologies remain substantial part of the sanitation solution for many years (the Kampala sanitation master plan forecasts sewerage coverage to be only 33% by the year 2030). In the City slum areas, the pit latrine is the most preferred excreta sanitation management system because of the low cost and space economy together with that fact that it fits well in the settlement pattern. The state of sanitation and hygiene in slum areas however is appalling due to low toilet coverage values (30-50%) with occasional cholera outbreaks, and rampant diarrhoea diseases, and subsequent environmental contamination due to lack of credible facilities and/or careless pit emptying practices. Many external interventions to improve toilet coverage in slum areas in Kampala have been highly subsidized and often free, based on the assumption that residents of informal settlements are too poor to pay for the development of their own sanitation facilities. As a result, formal producers of sanitation products have not considered this segment of the population as a viable market for their products. However, initial consultations show two main findings that suggest a new approach is needed in solving the sanitation crisis.

Launch of the GTZ-Cresttanks/ Polyfibre  sanitation PPP in Kawempe                                                                  Minister of Water & Environment &  the German Ambassador at the PPP launch                                                                     Members of the German Development Co-operation at the Kawempe PPP Ceremony

Free and subsidized sanitation facilities are abandoned or otherwise abused within a short time of being set up as users share no sense of ownership in them and expect that new free facilities will be provided. In addition, subsidies are never sufficient to ensure that all those in need gain access and are hence distorting the market and prevent a sustainable development. The some slum dwellers may be willing and able to contribute to the improvement of their sanitation services, including the acquisition of safe and comfortable facilities.

To contribute to the improvement of the latrine coverage and improve the environmental health and the livelihoods of the people in Kampala’s informal settlements, the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) through the Reform of the Urban Water and Sanitation Sector (RUWASS) entered a public-private partnership (PPP) with Crestanks and Poly Fibre, the two main private companies engaged in the production and distribution of modular plastic toilets. This partnership will make it possible to produce and distribute sanitation facilities designed for the specific needs of the urban poor population for the Kampala informal settlements. The 2-year( March 2008-March 2010) pilot project in the in the 6 parishes of Kamwokya II, Luzira, Bwaise I, Mengo, Nateete, Kibuli/ Kibuye will be undertaken in Kampala. Lessons from this programme will be used to roll out good parcticies/strategies in the Ugandan urban areas.

In order to up-scale the provision for and proper utilisation of basic sanitary installations (latrines, hand-washing facilities) by large parts of the urban poor community, innovative actions have to be undertaken by private sector producers and public institutions (relevant line ministries, local authorities) as well development partners. Two locally based producers of polyethylene made sanitation hardware, Crestanks and Poly Fibre, have not yet entered the market segment of the urban poor population due to limited buying force to be found there. The PPP’s integration into the numerous sub sector activities, especially during the International Year of Sanitation 2008, at the public core a strong and well coordinated awareness and hygiene education campaign, innovative market strategies and the availability of pertinent financial instruments for the urban poor could overcome the prevailing problems. The PPP is designed to close the gap between dire need for improved sanitation and hygiene on the one side and the entrepreneurial interest to expand to new markets. Without the public contributions under the proposed PPP, private sector partners are not prepared to focus on the urban poor community, mainly because of very limited buying force and existing demand.  Eventual negative side effects, as e.g. loss of jobs by latrine builders (masons), shall be prevented by the integrated approach. In the example of masons, their products could be included in the range of good products and practices; some will still be trained and incorporated in the assembly of the supplied polyethylene toilets and in the promotion of the awareness and marketing campaigns for the project.