Issue 9 | September - December, 2017
Uganda Marks Global Handwashing Day Amidst Failing Commitment on Sanitation
How Exclusion in Sanitation Programming has Impaired PWDs more
More 520,000 Refugees Expected by December 2017 as Donor Funding Drops
Teachers Awarded for Championing Sanitation Ventures
Issue 9 | September - December, 2017
CONTENTS
Contents CONTENTS
04 08 13 17
Uganda marks Global Handwashing Day amidst failing commitment on sanitation How exclusion in sanitation programming has impaired PWDs more People with albinism find it twice hard to access safe water European Union fills gaps in humanitarian assistance
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18 26 28 34
Oxfam: Long term funding needed to link refugees’ emergency to development More 520,000 refugees expected by December 2017 as donor funding drops Water Mission Uganda increases access to clean and safe water through motorizing boreholes with the use of renewable solar energy Pictorial: Uganda Wash Media Awards - 2017
Editorial
Welcome to yet another edition of WASH Journal. Thank you for being a committed reader. In this edition, we bring you joyous moments from the second annual gala of the WASH Media Awards. Quite a number of enterprising journalists who published life-changing stories related to water, sanitation and hygiene were recognized for their outstanding work.
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ut before the awards, WASH Journal toured a number of refugee settlement areas in West Nile where it was discovered that several organisations including Oxfam, Plan International and Water Mission Uganda were doing invaluable work to try and uplift the livelihood of thousands of refugees in terms of access to water, sanitation and Hygiene facilities. The beneficiaries give rich testimonies on how difficult life was before the organisations and their partners intervened. Others have even gone ahead to use facilities such as water sources as inspiration to start savings and credit cooperative societies through the excess money collected on a monthly basis to service tapstands and boreholes.
theme “Our hands, our future” in Lalogi Sub-county in the Northern Uganda district of Omoro. You will also read about teachers who were awarded for being at the forefront of promoting health and sanitation in their schools. Finally, WASH Journal highlights the plight of persons with disabilities in their struggle to access water and sanitation facilities. The government and other agencies are called upon to urgently intervene in ensuring that our brothers and sisters with different disabilities live a comfortable life.
Charles Opolot, WASH Coordinator
Did you know that every October 15 is celebrated the world over as a Global Handwashing Day? Well, this year’s national celebrations were held under the
Publisher
2. WATER MISSION UGANDA
WASH Coordinator: Charles Opolot copolot123@gmail.com
HAI Agency Uganda Ltd JK Building, Behind Apex Building,Ntinda P. O. Box 24413, Kampala Tel: +256 752 500 312, +256 772 232 117 Email: copolot@haiagency.com
Plot 49 Wilson Road, Jinja P. O. Box 15, Jinja, Uganda Tel: +256 414 680 106 E-mail: uganda@watermissions.org Website: www.watermissions.org
In Partnership with:
3. Plan International (Uganda)
1. OXFAM Plot No.3459, Tank Hill Road, Muyenga. P.O Box 6228, Kampala, Uganda Tel: +256 414 390500 E-mail: kampalaOffice@oxfamnovib.nl Website: www.oxfam.org/uganda
Director: Justine Ojangole jojangole61@gmail.com Legal: Alex Bagada Finance/Admin: Mary Ritah Namajji Consulting Editor: John Tugume Photography: Peter Mwayi, Robert Ariaka, Kwame Kwame
Plot 126, Luthuli Avenue, Bugolobi, Kampala-Uganda Tel: +256 414 305 000/414 505 005
Project Officer/IT: Francis Emeru Distribution: Sam Okello Business Dev,t Officer: Charles Okiria
Editorial Contributors: Martha Namugerwa, Peter Mwayi, Robert Ariaka, Ronald Mugabe, Stephen Bwire Design/layout Peter Mugeni, Slick Republic Ltd Email: slickrep256@gmail.com Website: www.slickrepublic.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers or any other organisation associated with this publication. The publisher does not guarantee the accuracy of content from the contributors and sector partners nor accept the responsibility of any statements herein.
cokirya1994@gmail.com
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Global Handwashing Day
First Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali, speaks during the Global Handwashing Day celebration in Omoro District on October 16, 2017.
Uganda marks Global Handwashing Day amidst failing commitment on sanitation By WASH Reporter
On October 16, 2017, Ugandans joined the rest of the world to celebrate the Global Handwashing Day under the theme “Our Hands, our Future”. The national celebrations held in Lalogi Sub-county in the northern Uganda district of Omoro attracted scores of government dignitaries, political, cultural and religious leaders and local community members from neighbouring districts in Acholi sub-region.
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elebrated every October 15, the campaign aims at motivating and mobilising people to wash their hands with soap as a key approach to disease prevention. The national event was presided over by Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali flanked by the Water and Environment Minister, Hon. Sam Cheptoris.
In his speech during the event, Gen Ali noted that poor hygiene practices still persist among majority Ugandans despite government’s achievement of increased water coverage in rural and urban settings. He noted that the government has increased water coverage between 70% and 80% in the recent years but research still shows that only 37% of Ugandans
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wash their hands after using toilets. Gen. Ali said due to the poor hygiene practices, diseases such as diarrhea have remained a threat in the country. “Handwashing with soap is a simple yet effective way of controlling diarrhea for children below five years. Handwashing with soap is a behavioral change that requires consistent and persistent
Global Handwashing Day
According to research, 28% of the adolescent girls miss a minimum of four school days per cycle, which leads to poor performance in class. Some of them drop out entirely.
Gen. Moses Ali (C) inspects the Environment Alert exhibitions stall during the Global Handwashing Day celebration in Omoro district, Right is Omoro District Chairperson, Mr. Douglas Peter Okello.
involvement of all stakeholders,” Gen Ali said. He encouraged residents to always wash their hands with soap after using latrines, adding that the practice will help create a society free of diseases. Hon. Cheptoris on the other hand noted that if locals practice good hygiene, the cost of purchasing drugs for treatment would be greatly reduced.
treat diseases such as Diarrhea that no longer pose a threat to other countries,” Hon. Cheptoris said. He also suggested that the Ministry of Education and Sports should reenergise the teaching of health-related syllabuses in schools to nurture pupils at early stages on keeping good hygiene.
He added that there is still need by the government to heighten sensitisation of community members in relation to good hygiene practices.
The commissioner for rural water supply and sanitation, Eng. Joseph Oriono Eyatu, cautioned breastfeeding mothers to always wash their hands before feeding their babies, arguing the practice will ensure that their children don’t suffer from hygiene-related diseases.
“We need to teach our people the benefit of good hygiene practices. If our people practice good hygiene, we would cut down the cost of buying drugs to
He noted that it is a common practice among Ugandan mothers no to wash their hands after cleaning their baby’s fecal matters arguing that the vice has
Over the years, Uganda has made significant achievements but efforts around water and sanitation have largely remained a key challenge that has to be addressed
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Global Handwashing Day
“Whereas government data reveals that water coverage in Omoro stands at 90%, the case is not true because we have a total of 233 boreholes that need to be decommissioned. The district council passed a resolution in July 2015 but the government has done nothing,” Mr Okello said. He also explained that the district missed out on sanitation grants from the government that should have helped to improve access to sanitation with a motive of reducing the incidence of diarrhea and other diseases related to poor sanitation.
Girls display a poster with pictures of proper hygiene and sanitation practices
“As a district, we believe if we had access to the sanitation grants, we would be able to implement and enforce handwashing in our community, but unfortunately, this is not the case. We have no motorcycle or vehicle in place at the water sector to monitor such activities,” Mr Okello said. He tasked the water ministry with approving the decommissioning of the water sources to improve the water access to community members. Over the years, Uganda has made significant achievements but efforts around water and sanitation have largely remained a key challenge that has to be addressed.
Girl guides wash their hands after visiting the washroom
led to spread of diarrhea. Eng. Eyatu said the government, through the intervention of other sector players, is putting numerous interventions in place to ensure that by 2030, 100% of Ugandans practice handwashing after visiting toilets.
District LCV Chairperson, however, said that effective hygiene practices in the district are being hampered by limited water coverage. For example, he noted that a total of 73,950 people in the district still lack access to clean water. He said limited water coverage has been affected by government’s non response to decommission 223 water sources.
Mr Douglas Peter Okello, the Omoro
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Poor sanitation coupled with unsafe water sources has contributed significantly to the disease burden in Uganda, including dysentery, diarrhea and typhoid fever. Global Handwashing Day initiated in 2008 is aimed at reducing childhood mortality rates related to respiratory and diarrheal diseases by introducing simple behavioral changes, such as handwashing with soap.
Global Handwashing Day
Testimony: What locals say about Handwashing Day Ms Grace Atim, 40, a resident of Oryang village in Lalogi Sub-county, said it was her first time to hear that a date dedicated to handwashing is celebrated across the world. “I am surprised about the day [Handwashing Day], but it’s not a new practice at my home. We have always practiced handwashing with my family members as a way of eliminating hygiene related diseases,” Ms Atim said.
Ms Grace Atim of Oryang village in Lalogi Sub-county.
She, however, said more sensitisation needs to be done in her area so that the uneducated residents understand the
health benefits of using soap to wash hands after using latrines. Mr John Otto 50, another resident in Lalogi trading center, said poor sanitation within the community is widely as a result of poor waste disposal. “Our biggest challenge is waste disposal within the community; many people don’t have good latrines at their homes. Some people instead use bushes and as a result, the fecal matters end up in streams and rivers that are at the same time used as water sources for domestic use,” Mr Otto said.
About Global Handwashing Day October 15 is Global Handwashing Day, a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soup. Every year, Global Handwashing Day is celebrated with events, campaigns, and handwashing programs around the world.
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efore each Global Handwashing Day, the Global Handwashing Partnership selects a theme that will inspire celebrants and encourage handwashing with soap beyond October 15. This year’s theme is ‘Our Hands, Our Future’, reminding us that handwashing protects our own health, but also allows us to build our own futures, as well as those of our communities, and the world. Thinking of the future, we strive for continued health, well-being, and productivity for ourselves, our families, and our communities. Handwashing is an affordable, effective way to achieve
these goals. For example, handwashing with soap could prevent many of the 272 million yearly schooldays lost to diarrheal disease, and 50% of the infections acquired in healthcare settings. Handwashing with soap has the power to improve access to education for children, protect the health of patients and communities, and reduce inequities. It has an important role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals— contributing to zero hunger, good health, quality education, reduced inequalities, and more. Efforts on Global Handwashing Day to promote the benefits and practice
of handwashing with soap, as well as fostering access to and improving hygiene facilities, will help us work towards a future where that potential is realized. This October 15, whether you are celebrating at school, in a health facility, or with your community, let’s wash our hands and invest in a better future! Stay tuned for more resources from the Global Handwashing Partnership, including an updated Planner’s Guide, social media toolkit, and planning calls. To stay up-todate on Global Handwashing Day plans, please follow us on Twitter, or contact us if you have questions.
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How exclusion in sanitation programming has impaired PWDs more A recent annual assessment and community visit done by Water Charity, a non-government organisation, discovered that out of the eight schools in and around the Rwenzori Mountains, none has a nearby water source. The children in these schools drink dirty water from far away rivers. This poses a risk of contracting waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea, typhoid and cholera by schoolgoing children.
Inclusive safe water sources must be set up closer to PWDs to boost their self-reliance.
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ut for children like Benjamin Kato of Karangura Subcounty in Kabarole District, who cannot go to school because he is paraplegic, the situation is even worse. The seven- year-old lives in abhorring sanitation conditions and is unable to access water by himself. After Kato’s uncle (and my guide), Elikana Kahuzo, quickly picked him up, I noticed a freshly wetted patch where Kato was laying, prompting me to ask whether it was his urine. “Yes, that is his urine. Kato eases himself wherever he gets the urge because he cannot move himself to the latrine. He cannot speak, so it is even difficult for him to call out for help whenever
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he wants to go to the latrine,” Kahuzo says. Nathan Kahuzo, Kato’s father, says the seven-year-old cannot walk or sit on his own due to a neurological impairment. The family was told that he got the problem as a result of a delayed delivery process, which his twin sister was lucky to survive. She is now studying in P.1 at a school down the mountain. Naome Sababu, 30, also a resident of Karangura Sub-county, relies on young children like Kato’s sister to fetch for her water. “If the children are not around, I have to wait until they are back. Going to the latrine, I have to drag myself by the buttocks,” she says in a tone that hardly hides her pain. The latrine she uses
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is used by about seven other members of the family, including children who defecate and urinate around the pit. But, Kato and Sababu’s anguish is just, but a small representation of what several more persons living with disabilities (PWDs) around the country go through to access water and sanitation services. Many argue that they have been left out and only cling by a thread of hope that the situation could change for the better someday.
According to the 2014 Uganda Population and Housing Census report, 4,096,477 (12.5%) of persons had at least one form of disability. This is too considerable a number of people to be ignored and left out in national social service programming. Lawrence Kagenda, 14, a resident of a neighbouring village in Karangura, says the Government has neglected people like him in various programmes, including sanitation. When I met him, he was being helped by his friends from school on his wheelchair, perhaps going home to have lunch.
Disabled and neglected Issue at hand: Designs of latrines do not cater for persons with disabilities “When I have diarrhoea, it is best that I spend the days and nights nearer to the latrine so that I can be able to quickly roll to ease myself. Short of that, I would never make it to the latrine in time.” Such is the story of Naome Sababu, a 30-year-old woman who has lived almost all her life with an impairment in both her arms and legs. Her only mode of motion is dragging herself by the buttocks. She suffered a measles attack when she was nine months old and has been paralysed. When I arrived at her home, which is approximately one mile up the Rwenzori Mountains, I found her seated by the veranda of her mud-and-wattle house; helplessly looking at her seven- yearold nephew, Benjamin Kato. Kato, too is paraplegic and was soundly resting in a pool of goat excreta. This sight of the helpless boy in such a dirty environment shocked me so much that I had to excuse myself from my guide for a while as I gathered the courage to return and probe how these two impaired residents of Kibagha–B, Nyakitokoli, Karangura subcounty, Burahya county, in Kabarole district are managing to get by in such deprivation. Karangura is located about 16km from Fort Portal town, 10km off Bundibugyo Road. The villages in Karangura are far-flung areas bordering and in the middle of the Rwenzori Mountains, where families commute long distances of 2-3km in search of clean water.
Kato seated in animal waste. Right: Sababu has to drag herself by the buttocks to access a latrine
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“I find it a challenge accessing water or the latrine in instances where there is no one to help me,” he laments. Asked how he goes to the latrine, Kagenda says he moves on his knees, which in most cases leaves them swollen and painful. The distance from his home and the nearest water source is about 200m and he says accessing the source on his wheelchair is troublesome. He survives on the mercy of fellow children who fetch water for him. At school (Kazingo SDA Primary School), he uses teachers’ latrines because they are cleaner since they have a concrete slab. And for Evelyn Nyakaisiki, who has a hearing impairment, the inability to have enough money to pay for safe water at a nearby tap stand has remained her biggest challenge to accessing safe clean water. A tap stand was constructed in her village but she still has failed to access the clean water because she is required to pay a monthly maintenance fee of sh2,000, which she cannot afford. “We are told that if we cannot pay that money, then we should not use the tap water,” she says. Nyakaisiki has since stopped using the tap water and risks her life by fetching muddy water from the nearby River Mpanga. Most people in this village have also resorted to using the unsafe river water.
Similar Situations Taking a look at the situation in urban centres, one would expect that life is a little better for the PWDs, but living in such areas also comes with its challenges. For Happy Simburiregye, a person with disability and resident of Fort Portal town, parting with money to access a sanitation facility is something he has vowed never to do. He has been on the Fort Portal streets for about three years now, having moved from Bundibugyo. Simburiregye says he faces a challenge accessing toilet services within the town because most of the facilities are built with steps (stairs) made of usually slippery tiles, yet he cannot climb them without help. To make matters worse, he has to part with some money to access the toilets yet he hardly earns a shilling. “The truth is, I do not have money. But even when I have little, I would rather spend it on getting what to eat than pay for toilet access. I, therefore, find places where there are no people and ease myself or get a polythene bag,” he admits. This seems to contrast the 2016 Uganda Water and Environment Sector Performance Report, which indicates that in the 2015/16 financial year, a total of 29 public toilets in 26 towns were constructed by the Water and Sanitation Development Facilities. The toilets, according to the report, have stances for both men and women, and each of the toilets has two stances for the PWDs, with one on the male side and the other on the female side. But maybe, Simburiregye’s town is not among the 26.
Area Leaders Speak Out
PWDs in urban centres can be given facilities where they can access services.
Kahuzo, who is also the LC3 chairperson of Karangura Subcounty, says the area found in Burahya county, is a mountainous one and the residents get several challenges when it comes to water coverage. The area is not well-serviced with safe water and most people use the nearby River Mpanga. When they need water, people in this area have to go deep in the valleys to draw water. “You can imagine how challenging such a terrain can be for someone who is visually impaired. I request the Government and NGOs to consider this Sub-county and bring enough safe water sources closer to the people,” he urges. Kahuzo says what makes the situation worse is that when it rains, the valleys in which people fetch water are affected by mudslides, which contaminate the water. “It would be better if we were given gravity flow schemes or water harvesting tanks
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to enable bring water closer to the people in the mountains,” he adds. When it comes to the latrine patterns, PWDs in this area have a huge challenge because the designs do not cater for them.
Inability to fetch water Joseph Baguma (visually-impaired) is the Councillor for PWDs in Karangura sub- county and also serves as the chairperson of the visually impaired in Kabarole district. According to him, access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in the area is a huge challenge for the PWDs. He says there are about 100 PWDs in Karangura alone. He says most of the PWDs he interacts with say they cannot fetch water for themselves. “Some tell me that when they go to fetch water from a water source, the able-bodied persons insult and sometimes assault them, telling them to go away from the water source because they are not supposed to fetch water there. This is demeaning,” he says. Baguma adds: “This makes them feel they are not valued members of society. What makes matters worse is that the water sources are not enough and most of the few available ones are far away from residences of these PWDs.” He gives an example of a tap stand near his home that is meant to serve more than 30 households. “When I want water, I have to get someone to go fetch it for me or guide me there. But not many visually impaired people have such social support mechanisms. This leaves majority of the kind under the mercy of good-hearted people, who might not be there every day,” he says. On issues concerning latrine access, Baguma says the designs in the area do not put into consideration the needs of PWDs. “The minimum standard latrine that a PWD can use is one that has a ramp, but in this area, I have not been told of any. And that only caters for those with arms, but what then can a person without arms do to hold onto the ramps?” he wonders. Baguma says PWDs in this community are still stigmatised and this has forced them to hold back whenever they are called upon to participate in developmental activities. “Therefore, as PWDs, we have many challenges. As a leader, I am required to move through the entire Sub-county looking to help other people like me, but I have limited resources, including lack of transport means. More so, many of the villages are hard to
A woman with a hearing impairment fetching water from River Mpanga.
reach because they are in the mountains. This makes it difficult for me to mobilise them,” he says.
What should be done? Baguma says sensitisation of PWDs and the rest of the communities on how to care for them should be done. “The water should also be brought closer to homes where PWDs are identified to be living. This will improve accessibility,” he says. For places like Kirangira village, in Buyende district, simple technology has seen the construction of inclusive boreholes. These have improved access to clean and safe water, but more so are user-friendly for the elderly and PWDs. Constructed by Plan International-Uganda, the boreholes have a ramp that allows people in wheelchairs to access them. In addition, there is a concrete base built purposely for them to sit as they pump water. Mary Magoba, 27, a PWD in Kirangira village, says on several occasions; before the borehole was constructed, she would go to bed without showering if at all there was no Good Samaritan to fetch for her a jerrycan of water. She says she previously was unable to climb the hills leading
Stephen Birungi of HEWASA programme, an organisation under Fort Portal Catholic Diocese, says in as far as equity and inclusion of PWDs in water and sanitation programming is concerned, more resources have been dedicated to sanitation instead of water.
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to the village spring well. But today, she can afford to ride her wheelchair to the borehole and get water. Judging from the experiences above and many more that are left undocumented, living with any kind of disability comes with limitations. These pose a huge challenge in the search for
comfortable living. So what then can you make of a situation where one who already has the limitations caused by disability also has to endure the pains of lacking essential facilitators of comfortable living like proper hygiene? Something should be done.
What sector players are doing Stephen Birungi, working with Health through Water and Sanitation programme (HEWASA), an organisation under Fort Portal Catholic Diocese, says in as far as equity and inclusion of PWDs in water and sanitation programming is concerned, more concentration has been put on the sanitation aspect compared to water.
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In sanitation, we design special stances for people with disabilities when we are constructing latrines at the institution level such as schools and health centres,” he says. Birungi explains that in terms of water, although not much has been done, HEWASA is employing models aimed at bringing water closer to the people, including those with impairment. This has been made mainly through gravity flow water systems. “With this system, we use tap stands, where even PWDs can be able to draw water since they are easier to open unlike boreholes that may require one to be strong,” he says. But disability being a complex concept that includes those that have visual, hearing or neurological impairments and cannot be able to move by themselves to the tap stands, Birungi reveals that a software component has been developed. It aims at making sure that such people have support from the people they live with. “The software component focuses majorly on the sensitisation of the communities, specifically targeting PWDs and their relatives. This is aimed at making sure they are able to give support to their persons with impairments,” Birungi says. He adds: “We have also come up with a consortium of
partner organisations, which will mainly focus on advocacy for community empowerment of marginalised categories and in this case, PWDs are at the core.” He says many times, these have been overlooked, especially in technology designs. “Under this programme, we are trying to give them a voice such that they can be listened to and the duty bearers come up with technologies that can take care of PWDs,” Birungi adds. Monica Komucunguzi, also working with HEWASA, says several interventions in sanitation have been made to promote social inclusion. “We have a case in Bufunjo, Kyenjojo district, where a visually impaired man did not have a latrine. He was using the bush to ease himself. We worked with community members to construct for him a latrine and a hand- washing facility,” she says. Komucunguzi adds: “We have also employed a mechanism of creating stone pathways to the latrine so a blind person can find their way to the latrine even without a guide. Using their walking sticks, they are trained that if they identify where the stones are, they can slowly move along the stone path to get to the latrine by themselves.” She also states that in some other cases, ropes are used along the path to the latrine so that such a person can hold onto that rope to guide them. “More so, in places like Kyarusozi Subcounty, there are albinos who for long have been marginalised by their communities. We make sure that when we are holding WASH meetings in the community, they participate and their views are heard. This has made them feel part of the community,” she states.
A disabled man pumps water from a borehole while on the seat added to help people with disability easily pump 12 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
This story was written by Ronald Mugabe and published in The New Vision, on September 3, 2017 and was the overall winning story for the Uganda WASH Media Awards -2017.
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People with albinism find it twice hard to access safe water By Martha Namugerwa
Peter Ogik, one of the founders and Chairperson of the Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism (SNUPA), once said his life became harder when he started school. Ogik recalls that while at school fellow children would mock him, saying that he is a result of a curse. This kind of mistreatment used to hurt him although he excelled academically. On the other hand, people with albinism in search for safe water are exposed to numerous risks like rape due to the existing myths like if you have unprotected sex with an albino you are cured of diseases such as HIV/Aids. Worse still, rape which exposes albinos to early pregnancies. “Our skins are not friendly to sun shine whereas fetching safe water here in villages, for example, from bore holes requires as to walk a long distance and in some communities, people are not friendly to people with our condition, which makes it hard for many of us to get water even if you are able to go to the water sources,” Ogik added. He added that their hygiene and access to sanitation facilities is also hard due to the discriminatory traits against them.
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gik who trekked 12 kilometers to school regardless of too much sunshine which could have caused him skin cancer, says on his way to school, people would call him names while his schoolmates would shun him because he looked different from them. While having a one-on-one with Ogik, he told the writer that it is the same case to many persons with albinism; some walking long distances under sunshine to access water facilities, which are also normally located far from people’s settlements. In most cases, this kind of exposure increases their risks to diseases and other dangers associated with the congenital disorder. He added that children with albinism face many challenges while trying to access safe water. Notably on top of walking long distances to fetch water from wells, water is also usually contaminated; many water animals breed in those wells which expose them to a great danger in case they step in the contaminated water. Since they lack the melanin substance, their skin cracks, causing them wounds which sometimes leads to skin cancer.
Interviewing a child living with albinism from Jinja district called Sarah (real name withheld) who was raped while on her way to the well (located very far from where she lives with her parents), she made it clear that at school, it is even worse due to bullying and self low esteem. Sarah says many of the children living with albinism cannot acquire good sanitary education especially girls from the eastern part of the country, mostly in villages, since many are discriminated against and stigmatized by their parents and the community’s behavior towards their condition. This sometimes forces them not to be open towards their parents and teachers when it comes to learning about good sanitation and proper hygiene. “Many schools in villages like ours have only one latrine, which is also in poor condition and used by both teachers and students. Then, how can they afford to provide clean and safe water to us and other students?” Sarah inquired. “I remember that whenever I had money for breakfast at school, I would give it away, thinking that this would make them my friends. I’d also help other students in school when they were struggling by answering questions for them, the blackboards were old and faint, September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 13
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International Albinism Awareness Day.
which meant that i couldn’t see clearly what was written on the board. But the teachers never bothered to move me to the front seats of the classroom,” Ogik said.
People with albinism are forced to walk at night or early mornings because of the need to take extra care of their skin, which exposes them even to more dangers.
children, continue to suffer with violence, discrimination, stigma and social exclusion which normally forces people to deny them their rights and they also reluctantly fail to demand for them.
Ogik is now one of the founders of Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism (SNUPA), a non-profit organization in Jinja, Uganda, which advocates for human rights and access to quality services for people with albinism. Ogik whose birth, he says, was a shock for his parents, wants people in WASH sector to carry out specific programs of inclusion addressed to people with albinism conditions.
Fazira Kawuma, the deputy speaker of Jinja district local government and one of the co-founders of SNUPA, said many children and people living with albinism not only face discrimination but also water facilities and wells don’t have shades for people in that condition to rest or stand since the sun is not friendly to their skin.
Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition which occurs worldwide regardless of ethnicity or gender. It most commonly results in the lack of melanin pigment in the hair, skin and eyes (oculocutaneous albinism), causing vulnerability to sun exposure.
“Looking for good social life such as safe water, proper hygiene and probably love comes with a lot of price to persons with albinism because many children are raped, infected with HIV and even impregnated because of the long distances they have to trek in pursuit of clean and safe water, which normally increases early pregnancies and child marriages,” Kawuma said.
The most common and most severe type in sub-Saharan Africa is ocular albinism which gives people white hair, pink skin, low vision or blindness and a greater susceptibility to skin cancer. People with albinism, especially women, and 14 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
Many are marginalized in their communities and experience social exclusion caused by the misunderstanding, entrenched prejudices and stereotyping due to their skin colour and traditional myths that they are cursed people or bring bad omen to society.
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In a country where access to clean water even to normal people in society is a problem, it is even worse for minorities such as people living with albinism. We went about asking, “Do people with albinism get access to safe water, good sanitation or good health services?” Discrimination and segregation has kept people with albinism at the edge. It’s tough for albinos to go fetching water from public water sources like boreholes, taps or wells because they are stigmatized, on top of being disadvantaged for not being able to keep under the sun for too long and their eye problems. People with albinism are forced to walk at night or early mornings because of the need to take extra care of their skin, which exposes them even to more dangers. Without melanin, ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight can easily damage their skin (sunburn) and increase their risk of developing skin cancer and severe visual impairment. While at the International Albinism Awareness Day in Kampala, the executive director of the African Albino Foundation Uganda (AAFU), Olive Namutebi, said albinos are struggling to fit in a society with a lot of discrimination and superstitions towards them, which hinders them from associating with people with normal skin colour. “Protection from the sun rays is the best health care for albinos, but the sunscreens are very expensive for us and many cannot afford. We urge government to de-classify these products from the general cosmetics lists,” Namutebi said. However, the UN Independent Expert on human rights of persons with albinism, Ikponwosa Ero, said that people with albinism also face significant barriers restricting their equal participation in society, impacting their rights to enjoy physical and mental health and their ability to access adequate health care, education, social services, legal protection,
and redress for abuses.
total risk even if they are thirsty or hungry in order to look for good and safe water.
“It is essential for us to be bold and untiring in our determination to see all people with albinism enjoy their full human rights,” said Ms Ero. In tropical countries, people with albinism who do not have access to adequate skin protection develop life-threatening skin cancers. If they use appropriate skin protection such as sunscreens rated 20 SPF or higher and opaque clothing, people with albinism can enjoy outdoor activities even in summer. However, the sunscreens and skin protections are very expensive for some of them who are living in poor conditions or villages. Therefore, walking in sunshine is a
Children with albinism need regular eye tests and it is likely they will need to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct vision problems such as short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism which also affects their education and associating with fellow children at school. Children being the most vulnerable, are normally denied proper sanitation and safe water by their parents, teachers and children while at school due to discrimination, which in most cases makes them unable or uncomfortable to enjoy their rights as other children or students whom they go to school with.
A voice for people with albinism International and regional human rights mechanisms had addressed the needs of persons with albinism, since June 2013, because of the recrudescence of attacks against them. The United Nations Human Rights Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted resolutions (HRC resolutions 23/13, 24/33 and 26/10, ACHPR resolution 263) in 2013 and 2014 calling for the prevention of attacks and discrimination against persons with albinism. On 18 December 2014, the General Assembly adopted resolution 69/170, proclaiming, with effect from 2015, 13 June as International Albinism Awareness Day. Moreover, in response to the call from civil society organizations to consider persons with albinism as a specific group with particular needs that require special attention, on 26 Mars 2015, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted resolution 28/L.10 creating the mandate of Independent Expert on the enjoyment
of human rights of persons with albinism. In creating the mandate, the Council reaffirmed that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person and that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It also recalled the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with albinism to be guaranteed the full enjoyment of their rights and freedoms without discrimination. In June 2015, the Human Rights Council appointed Ms Ikponwosa Ero of Nigeria as the first Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism.
This story was written by Martha Namugerwa and published on www.watchdog.com. The story received an award during the Uganda WASH Media Awards -2017. September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 15
Sanitation
Teachers awarded for championing sanitation ventures By WASH Reporter
In a bid to improve sanitation and hygiene in rural schools and settings, Vision Group has rewarded several star teachers championing the cause. Venny Lamunu of Lakwatomer Primary School in Lamwo district, is one such teacher who was rewarded Shs1.5million and voted among the best 12 teachers in the country in the year 2017.
A
t a time when everyone was leaving the northern region because of the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels, Lamunu decided to stay there. And considering that Uganda is a country with high school dropout rate and absenteeism, especially of the girls, Lamunu thought hard about the solution. Uganda has reported the highest dropout rate in East Africa. As many girls lack access to affordable hygienic menstrual products, they are forced to improvise with rags or leaves. According to research, 28% of the adolescent girls miss a minimum of four school days per cycle, which leads to poor performance in class. Some of them drop out entirely. With this in mind, Lamunu and the school authorities started a programme where girls are taught how to make pads using local materials. The school allocates a budget to buy materials such as cotton wool, gauze and cotton cloth every term. All girls from Primary Four and above make four pairs of pads per term. The school procures extra knickers and uniforms to help girls who stain their clothes during menstruation. Mary Aketch of Rainbow Primary School in Moroto district was also awarded for the same venture among other achievements. At school Akech has to ensure that these children not only come to school, but
Winner: Venny Lamunu in her class at Lakwatomer Primary School, Lamwo district.
also stay and actually learn. Akech has barely spent two years at this school. The enrolment figures keep going up. However, at home the situation is not any better. Only about 26% of the parents talk to their daughters about menstrual hygiene and general body changes. In most communities, issues like menstruation, puberty and reproductive health are taboo subjects. According to Akech, more voluntary organisations should come in to educate parents about such issues so that they can help parents to prepare the girl-child for a better future.
16 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
According to research, 28% of the adolescent girls miss a minimum of four school days per cycle, which leads to poor performance in class. Some of them drop out entirely.
EU fills gaps in humanitarian assistance By Stephen Bwire
The arrival of so many refugees in Uganda in such a short period of time has created significant gaps in the provision of humanitarian assistance. New settlements have been created and existing ones have been expanded to accommodate the new arrivals, but the needs outstrip the available services in many locations. Refugees in Uganda are free to move and work. They are also entitled to land to build a home and grow food but with land becoming scarce the latter is no longer always implemented.
T
o address the emergency needs, the EU has allocated €65 million in humanitarian assistance and €20 million to build the self-reliance of refugees. The European Commission is providing humanitarian funds to help address the needs of the more than one million South Sudanese refugees in Uganda that have settled in the West Nile region of Uganda. Financial support also goes to helping Congolese, Burundian and other refugees. So far in 2017, the European Commission has allocated €65 million in humanitarian aid to meet the refugees’ basic needs and step up efforts to decongest the overcrowded reception centers. In addition to €20 million from the EU Emergency Trust Fund to help refugees gain more self-reliance. The funding aims to address both emergency and early recovery needs. The Commission’s humanitarian partners are providing protection, shelter, food assistance, access to water and sanitation facilities, nutrition and education for the refugees.
Efforts are also made to help people earn an income, thus making them less dependent on aid in the long term. This is particularly useful in the context of Uganda, where refugees are allowed to move freely, work and start businesses.
progressive model presents the opportunity for more sustainable aid and solutions. Funds permitting, it provides refugees with some of the best chances of becoming self-reliant and independent from aid found anywhere in the world.
The Commission’s food assistance in Uganda consists exclusively of cash transfers, which give refugees more choice and control over what they eat while at the same time stimulating the local economy. With overwhelming numbers of children out of school, another focus is on building more schools and child-friendly spaces to provide education and protection as well as accelerated learning for those who have missed out on school and need to catch up.
Uganda is facing the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis with an unprecedented influx of refugees from South Sudan. In August 2017, the number of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda hit the 1 million mark. Uganda’s progressive refugee policy is under increasing pressure due to the scale of the crisis. Services are overstretched and available land is dwindling.
Given the scale of the crisis, the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) has reopened an office in Uganda in 2017. Its staff liaises closely with colleagues from the EU development branch which addresses the longer-term needs through vocational training for youths and livelihoods support. Uganda’s
Water supply is a challenge and requires considerable investments. Health services are downscaling. Food rations have been partially cut and classes are overcrowded leading to children dropping out. 85% of the South Sudanese refugees are women and children which presents concerns as to their security and protection from exploitation and abuse.
September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 17
Special Report
Long term funding needed to link refugee emergency response to development Edward Mwebaze is the Humanitarian Programme Manager of Oxfam Uganda. He spoke to WASH Journal about the organisation's activities, challenges and future plans. How long has Oxfam Uganda been involved in emergency interventions in the refugee crisis in West Nile region? Oxfam has been responding to the South Sudan Refugee crisis in West Nile sub-region since January 2014 following the outbreak of fighting in Juba in December 2013. With fresh violence in July 2016, the influx led to opening of new refugee settlement areas including Lamwo-Palabek in Northern Uganda where Oxfam and its partners are also responding. Are there plans to expand beyond emergency intervention to livelihood intervention in the near future? In our response, we have always emphasized a link between emergency and development. We have addressed the immediate needs of safe water supply, basic sanitation and hygiene, and protection from violence particularly Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) alongside appropriate efforts to promote household food security and livelihoods targeting the most vulnerable and especially women and youth. We have for example 18 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
supported households to improve nutrition and supplement food aid through kitchen gardening utilizing the small piece of land they are provided for settlement. This has meant provision of tools, seeds and agronomic technical support. We have also encouraged joint agricultural initiatives between the hosts and refugees where the access to more land for the refugees can be secured in a spirit of peaceful co-existence. Income earning opportunities have been provided through Cash for Work (CFW) initiatives within the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions like digging pipeline extensions and provision of casual labour on latrine construction projects. Our partners have also supported refugees and hosts to open up local feeder roads within the settlements through Cash for Work initiatives. With majority of refugee settlements now in transition and stabilization, the need for more sustainable livelihood options is critical. Oxfam has recently conducted livelihood assessments in targeted settlements and will be working with partners and other key stakeholders to support appropriate long term initiatives to strengthen livelihoods among the refugees and host communities. Who are some of the partners that have worked close with Oxfam in the interventions? Right from the start of the refugee response
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in 2014, Oxfam has worked with local partner organisations including Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD), Uganda Refugee and Disaster Management Council (URDMC), Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG), African Women and Youth Agency for Development (AWYAD), SORUDA and Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns (VEDCO) among others. What key areas has the organisation concentrated on in the region? In our humanitarian response we address three integrated sectoral areas: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH); Gender and Protection; Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable livelihoods (EFSVL) About how many people have been reached by Oxfam interventions in the period the organisation has been in the area? Are they limited to only refugees or Ugandans as well? Oxfam has reached approximately 280,000 refugees and 80,000 host community members with humanitarian response interventions in West Nile and Lamwo. What are some of the challenges the organisation has met in providing emergency interventions?
A number of challenges but mainly funding for the full package of our response has not been easy. Most funding has been very short term often not more than nine months. For such a crisis, long term funding arrangements are needed to be able to link emergency to long term development. The other challenge has been effective coordination among response actors despite very good efforts by the Government. In some cases it has been difficult to address the refugee needs fully where commitments have not been honoured by other agencies. Briefly talk about the long term plans of the organisation in the region? Oxfam work aims at ensuring that vulnerable women, youth and men in Uganda are resilient and actively engaged in decision-making, supporting their access to and control over resources. Our work will continue to be through three thematic goals. These aim to promote women’s rights, good governance and accountability, economic rights, and to enhance preparedness, reduce vulnerability to disaster and ensure an effective response to humanitarian crises. The realisation of these goals will require that Oxfam works in partnership and alliance with others from the local to global levels.
In our humanitarian response we address three integrated sectoral areas: Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH); Gender and Protection; Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable livelihoods (EFSVL)
September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 19
OXFAM Bringing Affordable, Reliable Water to Imvempi By Peter Mwayi
In February 2017, the Office of the Prime Minister opened Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Arua District to cater for an over flow of refugees trekking into the country as a result of war in South Sudan. Although it started with hosting 110,000 people, within just months, the settlement, located some 90km from Arua town across River Enyau, Imvepi is currently hosting to 133,000 refugees.
Oxfam Public Health Engineers chat with WASH Journal team near a truck loading water for distribution in Imvepi Refugee settlement.
O
ne of the largest settlement camps in the country, well over 80% of the refugee settlements at Imvepi are of school-going age according to Ms Ritah Manze, the assistant commandant at the settlement. The settlement currently has seven primary schools and one secondary school. Ms Manze reveals that right from the onset, water supply was identified as the biggest challenge at the settlement. The existing boreholes in the community soon depleted, meaning that the new arrivals were to exert more pressure on the already weak water sources. To tackle this challenge, authorities identified neighbouring River Enyau as a possible remedy. Oxfam then took the lead to supply water to the settlement, using the water trucking system. Under
20 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
the innovation, water is drawn from River Enyau and is treated using Alam by Oxfam. The water is then transported in water trucks and distributed to different areas of the settlement. Depending on the size of the households and the number of people in the area, blocks are created in the clusters and in each block, Oxfam has installed a 10,000 cubic litre tank from which the settlers draw water. According to Oxfam Public Health Promotion (PHP) team leader in Imvepi, Ms Esther Agoriat, the PHP team working together with the Public Health Engineers (PHE), ensure that the tanks are maintained and cleaned regularly to avoid contamination and ensure supply of clean and reliable water for household use.
than 300,000 litres supplied in Imvepi daily. This new invention has not just stopped at supplying water reliably, but also reduced the cost of providing water to the refugees in the settlement.
Oxfam's PHE team leader Henry Odongo shows the generator that is used to pump water at Yinga Production Well in Imvepi.
The water trucking has worked in Imvepi just as it did previously in many other settlements, albeit with challenges, according to Agoriat. The cost of hiring trucks, fuelling them and maintenance has made supplying water to the vast settlements a very expensive affair. “Besides the cost, trucks getting water from River Enyau to different locations sometimes get stuck along the way,” Agoriat adds. To tackle the breakdowns, other trucks are diverted so that water supply is never interrupted. As the planning for Imvepi took place, the need to develop a sustainable water supply chain was conceived. With funds from the European Union Civil Protection Humanitarian Aid, Oxfam hired a specialist to carry out a survey. The survey was meant to identify an area where a borehole could be sunk that can ensure reliable and sustainable supply of water.
The high yielding borehole drilled at Yinga has a dynamic water level of 55.77 meters deep. This, according to Mr Odongo, means that every time water is drilled, the borehole keeps filling up to the level of 55.77 metres. At no time is the water below that level as per tests carried out regularly. After pumping water for nine hours (5:00am to 2:00pm) the pump is switched off for an hour to allow servicing and rest for the team. It is then switched back on until 6pm. An 80,000 cubic litre tank will also be installed where water will be pumped to. A pipe network will distribute water from the tank by gravitation to different water points established within the settlement. According to Mr Odongo, the water points will have 15 tap stands distributed across the settlement. “Each of these tap stands will have six taps to serve 100 people per tap,” Mr Odongo says.
This new invention has not just stopped at supplying water reliably, but also reduced the cost of providing water to the refugees in the settlement.
The objective here was to establish a motorised water pumping system. Unlike other motorised boreholes, Oxfam aimed at sinking a borehole that would sustainably supply water throughout the day with no fear of depleting the water levels. A point was discovered and the Yinga Production Well established. The well, according to Henry Odongo, the Oxfam PHE team leader, was setup in June 2017. “Sinking deeper was not just for sustainability of supply, it was also for clean water. The deeper under surface you go, the cleaner the water,” Odongo says, adding that they did not just achieve the 100m depth; they went as far as 112 metres deep. After 72 hours of nonstop test pumping, the Oxfam PHE team acquired an 100% success rate on the project. First a clean water source had been established within the settlement itself. But also, more than 25,000 litres of water are pumped per hour and more
Imvepi Refugee Settlement Camp Deputy Commandant, Rita Manze, during an interview with WASH Journal.
September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 21
When Women are Forced to Exchange Food for Sanitary Pads
Pupils pose with menstrual kits distributed by Oxfam in partnership with CEFORD and ECHO at Rhino Refugee Settlement. By Peter Mwayi
Amidst heartbreaking tales about the indignity of going through menstruation without pads, Oxfam in Uganda has intervened in supporting the girl-child in menstrual hygiene. Between July and August, the organisation distributed 800 sanitary kits in eight primary schools across three refugee settlements of Bidibidi, Rhino Camp and Imvepi.
“
says now that refugees are settling in, giving them a source of livelihood is important to make their lives more meaningful in the settlements.
Ms Chandini says the intervention is part of an action call after the organisation realised that beyond emergency intervention, there was need to support refugees have a decent life.
At Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Arua District, 45-year-old Reida Nyoka raised an issue that since coming to the settlement, they have been well taken care of, however, as women, the issue of sanitary pads remains a great concern. She says the women are left with no option but to withdraw from their domestic duties when this time of the month comes. “It is very difficult for us, we have to resort to using pieces of cloth,” she says adding; “Nyoka left Lanya County in Central Equatorial state of South Sudan in March 2017 together with her husband and nine children.”
The kits distributed were each composed of a 10 litre plastic bucket, two (2) packets of reusable sanitary pads, one (1) metre sheet of cloth, 1,000gm bar soap, and three knickers,” Ms Peace Immaculate Chandini, Oxfam’s Gender and Protection Officer, says adding that more than 500 kits are yet to be distributed in Bidibidi.
According to Ms Esther Agoriat, Oxfam’s PHP team leader, there is need for more partners to engage in livelihood activities. She 22 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
According to Mr Innocent Ofwono, Oxfam’s PHP officer, Ariwa 3 is a model village that the organisation is using to roll out its trainings in the various hygiene promotion programmes that they have developed.
Nyoka says, ‘enterprising women’ like herself have resorted to selling the food rations distributed by donor partners in order to get money to buy sanitary pads. Nyoka reveals that she escaped the war through the Oraba border post near Koboko District into Uganda. At the reception centre in Koboko, she and her family were quickly registered and transferred to Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Arua District. There, she lives with one of her children, the other eight attend a school some kilometres away, while her husband returned to South Sudan to fight. At Ariwa 3 village in Rhino Settlement, Jerry Harrison Saroba has enrolled as a hygiene promoter under the integrated WASH, settlers and protection project with support from ECHO. She says under the programme, refugees receive training on personal hygiene as well as community cleanliness. She says much as sanitary pads are
Youth with a Mission, a refugee drama group formed to sensitize communities about proper hygiene and sanitation practices through music, dance and drama.
not being provided in the settlements, Oxfam has offered training to women and girls on how to make reusable sanitary pads using locally available materials. “We use a piece of cloth, which we fold and place on the panties. This we change regularly throughout the day,” Saroba says, adding that although it is difficult to use, it is the only option. According to Mr Innocent Ofwono, Oxfam’s PHP officer, Ariwa 3 is a model village that the organisation is using to roll out its trainings in the various hygiene promotion programmes that they have developed.
Oxfam Gender and Protection Officer, Ms Peace Immaculate Chandiri, demonstrates to pupils how to use some of the items in the menstrual kits.
September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 23
Ms Esther Agoriat, Oxfam PHP team leader (in pink) with Oxfam Programme Manager, Ms Esther Kabahuma (3rd R) and their team members.
OXFAM Empowering Refugees to Construct their Own Pit Latrines By Peter Mwayi
Hygiene has been and remains a matter of great concern for refugees and donor partners in all refugee settlements in the West Nile region of northern Uganda. When refugees are received at a reception centre, they are allocated plots of land where they are transported. Upon arrival, according to Ms Esther Agoriat, Oxfam’s PHP team leader, the first concern is a latrine which the new settlers will use. “Previously, latrines were constructed on the plots of land before the refugees settled there.
H
owever, because some refugees keep moving from one area to another, seeking to re-unite with their families, most of the latrines were left unutilised,” she says. This, according to Ms Agoriat, meant that rather than construct latrines, the refugees are provided with materials and tools to construct their own latrines as and when they settle. She says of course this has remained a challenge. “It is always difficult to convince a settler to use the material provided to construct a latrine yet they do not yet have a shelter to sleep in or if the shelter is small and they could
24 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
Jeresa Oba, a Hygiene Promoter.
Ms Esther Agoriat and her team handover a handwashing facility to a religious leader for use at the local church in Imvepi.
A refugee demonstrates the use of a tippy-tap to wash hands after visiting a latrine.
“Our PHPs are always available to help the settlers. We do home visits every week. We have identified hygiene promoters from among the settlers. These hygiene promoters help us to work closely with the settlers to pass our message on hygiene and proper latrine usage,” Ms Agoriat says.
Youth with a Mission members with Oxfam ECHO PHP team.
construct another to accommodate their families,” Agoriat explains. Three pick axes, three hoes, three ropes and three buckets are provided for a group of 10 households to help in constructing latrines. The refugees are expected to use the tools to dig a pit and also cut poles from surrounding bushes to put up the pillars for the latrine walls. Treated logs and a plastic slab with a cover are also offered for every latrine. Ms Agoriat says working together with the Public Health Engineers (PHE), the PHPs have constructed communal latrines for the settlers to use as they construct their own latrines. “We have also constructed communal bath shelters,” Ms Agoriat says, adding that there are about 4,890 households and up to 50 of them use every communal latrine and bath shelter. This, according to Ms Agoriat is challenging to manage the numbers.
Scovia Amadiyo, a community mobiliser recruited by Oxfam, explains that the team is structured in order to reach out to every individual settler. “Each community mobiliser works with 10 hygiene promoters picked from among the settlers. Each of the hygiene promoters is deployed to 10 households, whom they work with every week,” Ms Amadiyo explains, adding that this ensures that the key messages of health promotion reach all settlers. Besides latrines, Oxfam’s PHP team is also involved in promoting safe water usage, Ms Agoriat says. She explains that safe Water User Committees have been set up to manage tap stands and ensure cleaning of water tanks. “The safe Water User Committees also work with health promoters to ensure settlers keep their jerrycans clean and this maintains water cleanliness up to the point of consumption,” she says. Among the key hygiene messages sent out to settlers are the critical moments of handwashing (before breastfeeding, after using the latrine, before eating and before preparing food). Hygiene promoters also pass on the message of proper waste management, safe water chain and safe excreta disposal, according to Berna Aringo, a community mobiliser. September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 25
Special Report
More 520,000 refugees expected by Uganda2017 Refugeeas Response - Monthly Snapshot December donor funding drops By Stephen Bwire
September 2017
As of May 19, 2017, according to the Unicef74,516 Report, Uganda is host to 1.2 million with an average Since gaining independence in 1962, Uganda refugees has provided asylum to people fleeing war Registration by cou 1,355,764 and persecution in neighboring countries, especially South Sudan, Democratic Republic Refugees Refugeesarriving and of more than 2,000 people daily from South Sudan, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and of South Sudan registered of Congo, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. Uganda's progressive refugee policy grant asylum seekers in Aug 2017 freedom of movement, the right seek employment and establish businesses, these, 738,957 are children below 18 years, according torefugees UNHCR and the Office ofto the Prime Minister (OPM). and to access public services such as education, health care and justice. In refugee-hostOn April 12, 2017, OPM30and UNHCR expanded hosting capacity with a new service settlement in Lamwo ing districts, services are integrated with government delivery systems, whenever 12 the current feasible. The Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework for Uganda was launched in Refugee district at Palabek withRefugee an estimated capacity ofdistricts 30,000 March refugees. settlements hosting 2017, with a view to harness a whole-of-society approach in responding and 92,448
| as of 31 Aug 2017
78
60,479
29,283 23,340
finding solutions to refugee crises.
T
US $960
72
million his settlement is expected to host most of the refugees Partners Requested coming from the eastern part of South Sudan. By April 23, Refugees and asylum countryatofPalabek. origin a total of 5,738 refugees hadseekers been by settled Since South Sudan 1,021,903 early April, the trend of new arrivals has changed drastically as OPM/ UNHCR have observedDRC a larger than225,755 usual number of male Burundi 37,349 youths among new refugees.
Others Somalia
3
Yumbe
Maracha
Adjumani
Agago Moroto Otuke
Masindi
Alebtong
Apac
Amolatar Kaberamaido
65,564
Kiruhura
Bushenyi
Kanungu
60,009
24,303 24,240
13,499 13,027
Kisoro
Kabale
Mpigi
Buikwe
Mukono
Masaka
Mbarara
Kalangala
103,015
Rakai
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
Bududa
07-Aug
Refugee Response P
South S
Manafwa
Tororo Bugiri
Busia
Mayuge
Wakiso Namayingo Buvuma
Lwengo
Isingiro Ntungamo
Butambala
98,759
Kalungu
Sheema
Rukungiri
Jinja
Kampala
Lyantonde
Buhweju
Mitooma
Kayunga
Mityana
Gomba Ssembabule Bukomansimbi
Ibanda
Rubirizi
48,040 48,676
Mubende
27,144
Kamwenge
Kasese
Luwero
Pallisa Budaka Kibuku Mbale Butaleja
Namutumba Luuka Iganga
Kyegegwa
Kabarole
135,076
OPM/UNHCR are currently carrying out biometric registration, which will provide detailed information on this new trend. The establishment of basic services such as water, shelter, health and nutrition care has been accelerated.
Kiboga
Kyenjojo
Bulambuli Kween
Bukedea Kapchorwa Sironko Bukwo
Kaliro Kamuli
01-Aug
Kumi
Serere
Nakaseke
Nakapiripirit
Ngora
Buyende
Bundibugyo
Katakwi
Nakasongola Kyankwanzi
412 269
Soroti
Hoima
48,543
Amudat
Amuria Dokolo
Apac
647 481
Napak
Kole Lira
56,789
Kibaale
833
Abim
Oyam
Ntoroko
South Sudan influx
Kotido
Pader Gulu
Kiryandongo Buliisa
*Others include refugees f
Amuru
Nebbi
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
149,851
28,794 27,995
Jan Feb Mar Apr Ma
Kitgum
Nwoya
Zombo
3%
33,081 31,691
30,296
233,654
Arua
226,540
143
Kaabong
Lamwo
284,927 180,533
Urban refugees Nakivale is simultaneously receiving new refugee arrivalsEldery from Gender breakdown of registered different countries of origin, in particular fromrefugees Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. This puts increasing pressure Female Male on the reception facilities and basic services in the settlement.
47,351
137
Moyo
Koboko
34,963
51,408
533
SOUTH SUDAN
Bidibidi settlement, which is now the largest refugee settlement in Refugees and asylum seekers demographics Africa, is home to over 157,000 children from South Sudan who have arrived since the 2016 July crisis. 52%refugee 61%Other new South Sudanese arrivals are settled in Palorinya (148,381), Rhino (86,770), Imvepiand girls Women Children (55,778) and Lamwo (5,738).
51,572
Burundi 714
35,794
8%
Jan Feb Mar Apr M
Refugees and asylum seekers by country of origin
KENYA
T Req US $674
100 50, 1
71
RWANDA
** No RRP for DRC- Total fu
However, a recent report from the Uganda government and the The funding gap comes with more worries in light of the fact that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) project *The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Source: The Office of Prime Minister (OPM)- UBOS- and UNHCR - Author: UNHCR Representation in Uganda - Feedback: ugakaimug For more info, please visit: www.ugandarefugees.org - data.unhcr.org Unicef Humanitarian Appeal for Children is only 17 per cent funded, indicate that an additional 520,000 refugees by December 2017. and without additional funding, Unicef and partners will not be able Funding gap to contribute to critical services for women and children facing the risk Much as Uganda has opened her doors to refugees, the Uganda of disease outbreak, food insecurity and refugee influx. refugee humanitarian crisis currently faces a funding gap of 83 per cent against US$ 52.87million required by Unicef alone. On the In June this year, Uganda hosted the Solidarity Summit with a other hand, the UNHCR and government of Uganda under the view to raising an estimated US$ 8 billion to manage the refugee Refugee Response Plan (RRP) has projected the total funding of crisis, however, only US$ 358 million was raised. The Solidarity US$960.17million required to fund the ever-increasing influx this year, Summit aimed at showcasing the Ugandan model of refugee of which refugees from South Sudan will consume the biggest figure management, protection and social integration; and to mobilise of US$ 673.19 million, US$ 215.33 million on DR Congo refugees, and international support to meet the needs of both refugees and host US$ 71.64 million on Burundi refugees. communities. 2,998 2,789
Yumbe
Moyo
Kampala
Nakivale
Rwamwanja Kiryandongo Kyangwali
26 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
Kyaka II
Oruchinga
Special Report
sponse - Monthly Snapshot sponse - Monthly Snapshot sponse - Monthly Snapshot
516
ees ered g 2017 516 ees ered g 2017 516 ees ered ee g ng2017 districts
ee ng districts
$960 ee
ng districts sted
$960
sted
$960
sted
Uganda Refugee Response
Since gaining independence in 1962, Uganda has provided asylum to people fleeing war Registration by country of origin | Jan - Aug 2017 and persecution in neighboring countries, especially South Sudan, Democratic Republic South Sudan DRC country of origin | Jan - Aug 2017 92,448 of Congo, Somalia, Rwandainand Burundi. progressive refugee Since gaining independence 1962, UgandaUganda's has provided asylum to peoplepolicy fleeinggrant war Registration by 78,676 refugees freedom of movement, the right to seek employment and establish businesses, and persecution in neighboring countries, especially South Sudan, Democratic Republic South Sudan 68,442 DRC 67,411 92,448 by country of origin | Jan - Aug 2017 60,479 and togaining access public services as education, careasylum and justice. In refugee-hostof Congo, Somalia, Rwandainsuch and Burundi. progressive refugee policy Since independence 1962, UgandaUganda's hashealth provided to people fleeinggrant war Registration 2,926 78,676 2,611 2,546 ing services are integrated service delivery systems,businesses, whenever refugees freedom movement, thewith rightgovernment to seek employment and Democratic establish anddistricts, persecution inofneighboring countries, especially South Sudan, Republic 68,442 67,411 South Sudan DRC 29,283 60,479 92,448 feasible. The Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework for Uganda was launched in and to access public services such as education, health care and justice. In refugee-hostSinceSomalia, gainingRwanda independence in 1962, Uganda has provided of Congo, and Burundi. Uganda's progressive refugee policy grant 23,410 23,340 2,926 2,611 78,676 2,546 March 2017, withofa movement, view to harness a government whole-of-society in responding and ing districts, services are integrated serviceapproach delivery systems, whenever refugees freedom thewith right to seek employment establish businesses, 68,442 asylum to to people fleeing war and persecution inand neighboring 67,411 finding solutions refugee 29,283 60,479 feasible. The Comprehensive Refugee Response health Framework for Uganda was launched in and to access public servicescrises. such as education, care and justice. In refugee-host23,410 23,340 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Jan 2,926 Feb Mar countries, Sudan, Democratic Republic of whenever 2,611 March 2017,services withespecially a are view to South harness a government whole-of-society in responding and 2,546 ing districts, integrated with serviceapproach delivery systems, Refugees and asylum seekers by country of origin finding solutions to refugee crises. 29,283 feasible. The Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework for Uganda was launched in Burundi Others* Congo, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. Uganda's progressive 23,340 Jan Feb
March 2017, with a view to harness a whole-of-society approach in responding and Refugees and asylum country of origin of movement, the right refugee policyseekers grant by refugees freedom finding solutions to refugee crises.
to seek employment and establish businesses, and to access public services such as education, health care and justice. SOUTHare SUDAN In refugee-hosting districts, services integrated with Yumbe Moyo Lamwo government service delivery whenever feasible. The 180,533systems, 284,927 30,296 SOUTH SUDAN Comprehensive Yumbe RefugeeMoyo Response Framework for Uganda Lamwo 180,533 Adjumani 284,927 Arua was launched in March233,654 2017, with a30,296 view to harness a whole226,540 Yumbe Moyo Lamwo of-society approach in180,533 responding and finding solutions to Adjumani 284,927 30,296 Arua 233,654 226,540 refugee crises. 2017 September
533
Burundi 533 714
Jul
Aug
1,204
Jan 1,286
137
143 64
357
Jan Feb 533 Mar Apr May Jun 137
143
398
2,592 2,057 3,630 2,592 2,057 3,630
4,099 3,620
Apr May 2,592 Jun
Jul
1,142
Jul
1,286
1,142 505
1,204 1,076
1,091 921
505
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Abim
Amuru
Nwoya
Zombo
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Nebbi
Maracha
Adjumani September Arua2017 Kiryandongo 233,654 226,540 September 2017 56,789
n and girls
n and girls
n and girls
Female Female
Pader Kitgum
Kole
Amuru
Nwoya
Zombo
Nebbi Buliisa
Lira
Nwoya Kiryandongo Masindi
Kotido
Otuke Agago
Alebtong
Dokolo Lira
Otuke Agago
Alebtong
Amuria
Soroti Abim
Kotido
833
Moroto
Amudat
Napak Katakwi
Zombo
56,789
Nebbi Buliisa
Nakapiripirit Moroto Amudat
74,516 Refugees 74,516 registered Refugees 74,516 in Aug 2017
Hoima 1,355,764 48,543 Refugees and Kiryandongo 1,355,764 asylum seekers 1,355,764 Refugees and 56,789 Hoima
registered Refugees in Aug 2017 registered in Aug 2017
48,543 Refugees and asylum seekers asylum seekers
Refugee 30 65,564 settlements 30 Refugee 27,144
65,564
98,759
Refugee settlements settlements
27,144
72
65,564 Partners 72 103,015 72 Partners
12 Refugee 12 hosting 12 Refugeedistricts
98,759
Refugee hosting districts hosting districts
98,759
US $960 US $960 Requested US $960 Requested Requested
Partners
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug
Jul Aug
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul
Aug
658 South647 Sudan influx | Aug 2017 *Others include refugees from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and other countries954 of origin. 481 530 833 418 355 647 658 412 South Sudan influx | Aug 2017 954 481 210 265 269 530 184 184 158 145 418 180 833 355179 412647 658
52% 52% and girls Women 52% Women and girls
8% 8% refugees Urban 8% Urban refugees
3% 3% Eldery 3% Eldery
Children
Women and girls
Gender breakdown registered refugees Eldery Urban of refugees Gender breakdown of registered refugees 149,851 Gender breakdown of registered refugees *The boundaries and names shown and the designations not imply Male used on this map doFemale 135,076 149,851
149,851endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Source: The Office of Prime official Female Male Minister135,076 (OPM)- UBOS- and UNHCR - Author: UNHCR Representation in Uganda - Feedback: Female Male 135,076 ugakaimug@unhcr.org - Creation date: 19 Sept 2017 - For more info, please visit: www. ugandarefugees.org - data.unhcr.org
60,009 60,009
51,572
60,009 51,572
47,351
51,408 51,408
48,040 48,676 48,676
381
381 07-Aug 14-Aug 21-Aug 28-Aug 31-Aug Since gaining independence in 210 1962, 184 Uganda has provided asylum to 184 people fleeing war Registrati 265 269 530 158 418 180 179 145 355 Refugee Response Plans (RRP) funding update | South Sept 2017** and in neighboring countries, especially Sudan, to Democratic Republic Sincepersecution gaining independence in 1962, Uganda has provided asylum people fleeing war Registrati South Su 381 07-Aug 14-Aug 21-Aug 28-Aug 31-Aug Since gaining independence 1962, Uganda has provided asylum to people fleeing war Registrati 210 of Congo, Somalia, Rwandainand Burundi. Uganda's progressive refugee policy grant and persecution in 269 neighboring countries, especially South Sudan, Democratic Republic 265 158RRP184 South Su 145Burundi South Sudan countries, RRP184 especially 179 South 180 Sudan, and persecution in neighboring Democratic Republic Refugee Response Plansand (RRP) funding update | Sept 2017** refugees freedom of Rwanda movement, the right to Uganda's seek employment and refugee establishpolicy businesses, of Congo, Somalia, Burundi. progressive grant South Su 07-Aug 14-Aug 21-Aug 28-Aug 31-Aug of Congo, Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi. Uganda's progressive refugee policy grant and to access public such as right education, care andand justice. In refugee-hostrefugees freedom of services movement, the to seekhealth employment establish businesses, South Sudan RRP Burundi RRP refugees freedom of services movement, the right to seek employment and establish businesses, Refugee Response Plans (RRP) funding update | service Sept 2017** ing districts, services are integrated government delivery systems, whenever and to access public such aswith education, health care and justice. In refugee-host29% and to access public services such aswith education, health care and justice. In refugee-host2%Uganda 29,283 feasible. Theservices Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework for was launched in ing districts, are integrated government service delivery systems, whenever South integrated Sudan RRP Burundi RRPsystems, whenever 23,340 ing districts, with service delivery 29,283 March 2017, with a are view toRefugee harness a government whole-of-society approach in was responding and feasible. Theservices Comprehensive Response Framework for Uganda launched in 23,340 29% 29,283 feasible.2017, The Comprehensive Refugee Frameworkapproach for launched in Total 2%Uganda finding solutions to arefugee crises. March with view to harness Response a whole-of-society in was responding and 23,340 Jan Feb Requested March 2017, with view to harness a whole-of-society approach in responding and Total finding solutions to arefugee crises. Jan Feb Refugees and asylum seekers by country 29% of origin Total US $674.25 million Requested finding solutions to refugee crises. 2% Burundi Jan Feb USTotal $71.64 Refugees and asylum seekers Requested 100,000 by country of origin Burundi Refugees and asylum seekers country of origin million 50,000 by US $674.25 million Requested
Total 1 000 Requested 100,000 50,000 US $674.25 million 71% 1 000
714 Burundi
US $71.64 Total million 98%
714
SOUTH SUDAN Requested
Refugees 103,015 and asylum seekers by country of origin SOUTH SUDAN US $71.64 100,000 Refugees and asylum Rakai seekers by country of origin Rukungiri SOUTH SUDAN 98% million 50,000 Isingiro Kabale UNITED South and Sudan Kisoro Refugees asylum seekers by1,021,903 country of origin 71% RWANDA Funded Gap Ntungamo 103,015 REPUBLIC OF 1 000 Kanungu KobokoYumbe Moyo South Sudan TANZANIA 1,021,903 Lamwo 13,499 13,027 DRC 225,755 ** No RRP for DRC- Koboko Total fund requested for DRC situation is US $215.3 million. South Sudan 98% 1,021,903 Kabale UNITED 284,927 Yumbe 180,533 Moyo 30,296 Kisoro 71% RWANDA 2,998 2,789 Funded Gap Lamwo Kitgum DRC REPUBLIC OF 225,755 KobokoYumbe 180,533 Moyo Burundi 37,349 284,927 30,296 Lamwo DRC TANZANIA 225,755 Kyaka II Oruchinga Maracha 13,499 13,027 180,533 Kitgum ** No RRP for DRC- Total fund requested for DRC situation is US $215.3 million. 284,927 Amuru 30,296 Adjumani Burundi 37,349 2,998 2,789 Kitgum RWANDA Maracha Arua Others 35,794 Funded Gap 233,654 Burundi Amuru19 Sept 2017 - Pader mply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Source:37,349 The Office of Prime Minister (OPM)- UBOS- and UNHCR - Author: UNHCR Representation in Uganda - Feedback: ugakaimug@unhcr.org - Creation date: Adjumani Agago Maracha 226,540 Kyaka II Oruchinga Gulu Others 35,794 13,499 13,027 Arua Amuru Abim Padermillion. Adjumani 233,654 ** No RRP for DRC- Total fund requested for DRC situation is US $215.3 Somalia 34,963 Agago Others 35,794 226,540 Arua Gulu 2,998 2,789 Pader 233,654 Nwoya Abim Agago mply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Source: The Office of Prime Minister (OPM)- UBOS- and UNHCR - Author: UNHCR Representation in Uganda - Feedback: ugakaimug@unhcr.org - Creation date: 19 Sept 2017 Zombo Somalia 34,963 226,540 Otuke Gulu Nebbi Abim Kyaka II Oruchinga Oyam Kole Nwoya 34,963 RefugeesSomalia and asylum seekers demographics Otuke DEMOCRATIC Zombo Nebbi Lira Alebtong Nwoya Zombo Oyam Kole Otuke REPUBLIC Refugees asylum seekers demographics Amuria Kiryandongo Nebbi mply official endorsement or acceptance by the Unitedand Nations. Source: The Office of Prime Minister (OPM)- UBOS- and UNHCR - Author: UNHCR Representation in DEMOCRATIC Uganda - Feedback: ugakaimug@unhcr.org - Creation date: 19 Sept 2017 OF THE CONGO Refugees and asylum seekers demographics 56,789 Oyam Kole LiraDokoloAlebtong Amuria Buliisa REPUBLIC DEMOCRATIC Kiryandongo
61% 61% Children 61% Children
Aug
64
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Moroto
Napak
Abim
Pader Gulu Oyam Kole Apac
Kaabong
Amuria Amolatar Kaberamaido 01-Aug Ngora Otuke Apac Napak 481 Dokolo Oyam Bulambuli Kween Kumi SerereSoroti ApacKole Katakwi Nakapiripirit Lira Alebtong Bukedea Kapchorwa Amudat Nakasongola 412 Amuria Sironko Amolatar Kaberamaido 01-Aug Ngora Bukwo Buyende Masindi Pallisa Apac Nakaseke Bulambuli Kween Dokolo Serere Kumi Buliisa Kyankwanzi Budaka | as of 31 Aug 2017 Apac Kaliro Soroti Kibuku Katakwi Bududa Ntoroko Mbale Nakapiripirit Bukedea Kapchorwa Manafwa Kamuli Nakasongola Butaleja Kibaale Namutumba Sironko Kiboga | as of 31 Aug 2017 LuweroAmolatar Kaberamaido 01-Aug Ngora Bukwo Kayunga Buyende Pallisa Masindi Apac Bundibugyo Kyankwanzi Nakaseke TororoBulambuli Kyenjojo Luuka | as of 31 Aug 2017 Budaka Kumi Iganga Serere Kween Kaliro Hoima Bududa Ntoroko Kibuku Mbale Kabarole Mubende Kyegegwa Jinja Bukedea Kapchorwa Manafwa Bugiri Kamuli Butaleja Mityana Kibaale Nakasongola Namutumba Busia Sironko Kiboga Luwero Kayunga Buyende KENYA Bukwo Pallisa Bundibugyo Kampala Buikwe LuukaMayuge Tororo Kyenjojo Kyankwanzi Nakaseke Iganga Budaka Gomba Kamwenge Kaliro Bududa Ntoroko Kibuku Mbale Kabarole Kyegegwa Jinja Butambala SsembabuleMubende Bugiri Butaleja Mityana Kasese Manafwa Kamuli Kibaale Busia Namutumba WakisoLuwero Bukomansimbi Kiboga KENYA Kayunga Mpigi Kampala Mayuge Bundibugyo Mukono Buikwe Kyenjojo Luuka Iganga NamayingoTororo Kiruhura Gomba Kalungu Kamwenge Lyantonde Ibanda Butambala Rubirizi Kabarole Mubende Kyegegwa Ssembabule Jinja Kasese Bugiri Mityana Buvuma Buhweju Wakiso Busia Bukomansimbi KENYA Lwengo Masaka Mpigi Mukono Buikwe Kampala Mayuge Namayingo Bushenyi MbararaKiruhura Kalangala Kalungu Kamwenge Lyantonde Gomba Ibanda Mitooma million Sheema Rubirizi Butambala Ssembabule Kasese Buhweju Buvuma Rakai Wakiso Rukungiri Bukomansimbi Isingiro Lwengo Masaka Mpigi million Bushenyi Mukono Ntungamo MbararaKiruhura Namayingo Kalangala Kanungu Kalungu million Lyantonde Mitooma Sheema Ibanda Rubirizi Buvuma Rakai Buhweju Rukungiri Isingiro Kabale UNITED Lwengo Masaka Kisoro Bushenyi Ntungamo Mbarara REPUBLIC OF Kanungu Kalangala Mitooma Sheema TANZANIA
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
48,543 30 27,144
Female
Gulu Oyam
1,169
South Sudan | Aug 2017 137 influx 143 *Others include refugees from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and other countries954 of origin.
Kotido
Agago
Jul
Jul Aug
Uganda Refugee Response - Monthly Snapshot Uganda Uganda Refugee Refugee Response Response -- Monthly Monthly Snapshot Snapshot Pader Kitgum
Gulu
Aug 1,169
398 *Others include refugees 357 from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and other countries of origin. 64
Kaabong
Koboko Maracha
1,169
921
1,142 505
Jul 1,091
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug
Aug
1,091 921
1,204
Aug
2,057
Others* 806
4,099 3,620
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
1,076
398
357
3,620
Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Others*
806
714
Kitgum
Amuru
Jan 1,286
1,076
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Kaabong
Koboko Maracha
23,410 Jul Aug
806
Burundi
Refugees and asylum seekers by country of SOUTH origin SUDAN
Koboko
Mar Apr May Jun
714
4,099 3,630
Apac
533
714
533 533
Kaabong
Jan Feb
Kaabong
*Others incl Jan Feb Jan Feb *Others incl
Kaabong
South *OthersSud incl South Sud South647 Sud
Kotido Kotido Kotido
Moroto Napak Napak
Moroto Moroto
Napak
Lira
Amudat Amudat
481
647
481
647 412
481
412
Alebtong Soroti Katakwi Nakapiripirit Amudat 412 Amuria Dokolo ApacAmolatar Kaberamaido Soroti 01-Aug Ngora Katakwi Nakapiripirit Dokolo Buliisa Apac Apac Soroti Kumi KatakwiBulambuli Kaberamaido Serere Kween Nakapiripirit Hoima Amolatar 01-Aug Ngora Masindi Apac Bukedea Kapchorwa Kaberamaido Bulambuli Kween 01-Aug NakasongolaAmolatar Ngora Kumi Serere Hoima Masindi Sironko Apac Bukwo Buyende Pallisa Kumi Bulambuli Bukedea Kapchorwa Serere Kween Hoima Kyankwanzi Nakaseke Nakasongola Budaka Sironko Bududa Bukwo Ntoroko Kibuku Bukedea Buyende Kaliro Pallisa Mbale Kapchorwa Nakasongola Kyankwanzi Sironko Nakaseke Manafwa Kamuli Butaleja Kibaale Budaka Bukwo Buyende Kaliro Namutumba Pallisa Kiboga Bududa Luwero Ntoroko Kibuku Mbale Kayunga Kyankwanzi Nakaseke Bundibugyo Budaka Manafwa Kamuli Butaleja Kibaale Bududa Tororo Ntoroko Kyenjojo LuukaKaliro Namutumba Iganga Kibuku Mbale Kiboga Luwero Kayunga Manafwa Kamuli Butaleja Kibaale Bundibugyo Kabarole Mubende Kyegegwa Jinja Namutumba Kiboga Mityana Luwero Tororo Kyenjojo Luuka Iganga Bugiri Kayunga Busia Bundibugyo KENYA Tororo Kyenjojo Kyegegwa LuukaMayuge Kabarole Mubende Kampala Iganga Bugiri BuikweJinja Mityana Busia Gomba Kamwenge Kyegegwa Kabarole Mubende Jinja KENYA Bugiri Mityana Kampala Mayuge Butambala Buikwe Busia Ssembabule Kasese KENYA Gomba Wakiso Kamwenge Bukomansimbi Kampala Mayuge Buikwe Mpigi Kasese KamwengeKiruhura SsembabuleGomba KalunguButambala Wakiso Mukono Namayingo Bukomansimbi Butambala Lyantonde Ssembabule Mpigi Ibanda Kasese Rubirizi Wakiso Mukono Bukomansimbi Namayingo Kiruhura Buvuma Buhweju Kalungu Mpigi Lyantonde Mukono Ibanda Lwengo Masaka Namayingo Rubirizi Kiruhura Kalungu Bushenyi Buvuma Lyantonde Mbarara Buhweju Kalangala Ibanda Rubirizi Lwengo Masaka Mitooma Sheema Buvuma Buhweju Bushenyi Mbarara Kalangala Lwengo Rakai Masaka Rukungiri BushenyiSheema Isingiro Mitooma Mbarara Kalangala Ntungamo Rakai Mitooma Sheema Isingiro Kanungu Rukungiri
OF REPUBLIC THE CONGO OF THE CONGO
Buliisa
56,789 Masindi56,789
Kiryandongo
Refugee R Refugee R Refugee R
48,543 48,543 48,543
27,144 27,144 65,564 27,144 65,564 65,564
Rukungiri Ntungamo Kanungu Kabale Ntungamo Kisoro Kanungu Kisoro
Kabale
98,759 98,759 98,759
103,015 September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 27 Rakai 103,015 103,015UNITED
Isingiro
REPUBLIC OF UNITED TANZANIA REPUBLIC OF
Special Report
Water Mission Uganda increases access to clean and safe water through motorizing boreholes with the use of renewable solar energy By Robert Ariaka & Peter Mwayi
Moses Wenger is a refugee in Zone 3, Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe District. The 40-year-old came to Uganda in September 2016 as a refugee. Unlike his peers with whom he arrived at the camp, his settlement was a little easier. Being a Person with Special Needs (PSN), Wenger benefitted from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) special programme for PSNs like himself. Not only was Wenger provided with construction materials, but also had his shelter constructed for him in addition to other facilities such as a pit latrine and bath shelter.
A
lthough much was done, Wenger who walks with the aid of crutches was still faced with a big challenge and this was easy access to an inclusive — reliable safe water source. Like all the other persons of concern, accessing clean and safe water was an overall challenge refugees face during arrival of Bidibidi. Native Ugandans in villages surrounding the settlements took advantage of the delay of water trucks that deliver water to the settlement. They made the refugees pay up to Shs1,000 for a 20-litre jerrycan of water. In a similar situation like Wenger is Joselyn Suya, a 55-year-old mother of four, settled in Bidibidi Zone 3. She told WASH Journal that she arrived at the settlement in September, 2016. For the first month, Suya and her family had to wake up as early as 5:00am to wait for water at the water trucking delivery point. She adds that fights plus jerrycan thefts at the delivery points/tanks were the order
Moses Wenger, one of the refugees in Zone 3, Bidibidi Refugee Settlement.
28 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
Special Report
Women and children fetching water at one of the water points in Nyumanzi Settlement. Photos: Robert Ariaka
of the day. This happened because there could be a very high demand for water compared to the delivery rate at a given time. Suya says now she can easily fetch free safe water from a reliable tap which was constructed by Water Mission Uganda (with funding from UNICEF). This tap is one of the many taps that are connected to a solar powered motorised water supply system constructed by Water Mission Uganda to benefit about 3,000 refugees in Bidibidi Settlement Zone 3. Steven Mawa, who is also a resident of Bidibidi Zone 3, shares a similar story with Wenger and Suya. He explains that life was very difficult at the beginning. “We used to painfully sell our food rations so as to buy water at some point. But even then, one could not afford enough water.” He adds, that most of them could live on one jerrycan for a household of 10 people every day which is two liters per person per day against the desired standard of 15 liters per person per day. Upon realising the challenges of inadequate and unreliable water supply,
Shs1,000
Amount of money that refugees/persons of concern bought a 20-litre jerrycan of water when they had first arrived. Susan Audo, WASH Specialist, Water Mission Uganda explains how the boreholes are motorised to easily supply water to the refugees.
Water Mission Uganda with support or in partnership with from UNICEF, intervened through providing inclusive sustainable clean and safe water solutions. According to Ms Susan Audo, Water Mission Uganda WASH Specialist, “Water is unique among all natural resources because while it is renewable, it is neither replaceable nor substituted.” She adds that for healthier living, the persons of concern (refugees) have a right to clean and safe water just like any other person. It is against this background,
42,000 People
Number of people benefiting from the five projects implemented by Water mission in Bidibidi Settlement
Shs3,000
Amount of money that is collected from each household every month for maintenance the water facility.
September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 29
Special Report
therefore, that Water Mission Uganda designs and implements solar-powered projects with an objective of transforming lives through sustainable safe water solutions. Anna Ajonye, a mother of four, says she easily fetches five 20-litre jerrycans daily and this has helped to meet her family’s water needs easily and timely with no struggles. She says Water Mission Uganda has “saved” them by providing them with clean safe water, which makes it easy for them as women, to manage household chores timely, in addition to their hygiene. There has been an improvement in health ever since the Safe Water Project came to our community.
The solar pump station at Bidibidi where water is motorised to supply the refugees constructed by Water Mission Uganda
hygiene at the water point.
Audo explains that Water Mission Uganda has implemented five solar-powered safe water projects in Bidibidi refugee settlement which are serving a population of about 42,000 people. To bring water nearer to the people, Water Mission Uganda uses solar as a source of energy to pump water. The water goes through a chlorination process before it is directed to the reservoir tanks. Using gravity flow, water is then distributed to the different tap locations through a pipe network. All taps have either double or triple faucets to reduce on queuing time thereby making a no-time consuming activity for users.
She says: “My committee fenced the tap water point and ensures the area is cleaned every day to avoid contamination of the water.”
Water User Committees have been established at every tap location to take charge of the safety and maintenance aspects of the water systems. The committees promote safe water usage through water, sanitation and hygiene promotion campaigns. Some of the activities undertaken include water container cleaning at the source, proper usage and hygiene maintenance of the water sources among others and homes to avoid contamination; but also promote general cleanliness around the water points.
In Adjumani, Water Mission Uganda community development officer Pauline Aywek Orik says the organisation has motorised boreholes in Nyumanzi, Ayilo 1, Boroli, Birra and Maaji II settlements.
In addition, Suya is also the chairperson of the water user committee that manages
With four-tap stands installed across the community, each with a double faucet a
She adds that the only challenge now is that some people are not used to the smell of chlorine used for treating the water. However, the committee is promoting the importance of chlorine for people to appreciate it through regular sensitisations. She is, however, quick to add that no incident of sickness has been reported as a result of the chlorine treatment.
In Birra, Aywek says Water Mission Uganda motorised an existing borehole within the host community as a give back to the host community. The project currently serves Birra Health Centre III and the host community together with the refugees from Lewa and Boroli.
30 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
total population of about 1,495 persons is served by this project. Aywek says the users have accepted to own the project; as such, they collect Shs3,000 from each household every month which is used to maintain the facility. “About Shs970,000 has been saved from the collections and with the help of Water Mission Uganda, the users are in the process of opening a bank account, where this money will be saved,” she reiterates. She adds that currently, users have drafted a group constitution to manage the account which awaits the district endorsement before it becomes operational. On the issue of sustainability, Audo or Aywek says user fee collection that the people have embraced will cater for operation and maintenance of the project. It will be the sole responsibility of the district to oversee the projects performance when WMU hands over to them. Michael Bazira, the WMU Country Director, emphasised the Water Mission’s commitment to provide sustainable safe water solutions to refugees and host communities in Northern Uganda. He acknowledges the growing partnership with UNICEF and Ministry of Water & Environment in fulfilling their mission.
Special Report
Refugees turn water into income generating venture By Peter Mwayi
Nyumanzi Refugee Settlement in Adjumani District is one of the oldest settlements that was established in December 2013. Located in the town bordering Uganda and South Sudan, refugees here have found a sanctuary and hope for a new beginning. With about 34,455 persons of concern in the settlement who fled the conflict from the war-torn South Sudan, the area also works as a transit point for new arrivals from South Sudan.
W
ith the reduction in distribution of Non-Food Items (NFIs) and food rations, life continues to become challenging, forcing the refugees to think out of the box to establish means of making ends meet. In 2014 Water Mission Uganda (WMU) intervened to solve the problem of access and scarcity of safe water by motorising the existing boreholes that were drilled by different partners and Adjumani local Government, allowing more water to be collected by both the refugees and the host communities. To manage the motorised system, WMU and the District supported the establishment of Water User Committees, which according to Deborah, a 50-year-old committee member, has established a mother-child relationship with the persons of concern in refugee households. Seven members are chosen to manage each of the nine tap stands in the refugee settlement. The members are tasked with hygiene and maintenance of the physical structure in the tap stands. As a sense of community ownership, it was decided by the persons of concern that every household collects Shs500 every month to help in maintenance, especially of the fences and the taps themselves. This was in a bid to ensure that not all issues concerning the water are referred to Water Mission Uganda. The organisation did not end at providing the free water but also trained the Water User
Committees on water source management. More than 150 households use a tap stand every day. From these 150 households, Shs75,000 is collected every month, which money is used to mend the fences and to buy cleaning material to ensure effective hygiene promotion takes place at the tap stands. Because of the collections, the persons of concern (refugees) have been able to start saving some of the money since October 2016 to date according to Water Mission Uganda community development officer Pauline Aywek Orik. On a visit to the refugee settlement in August, WASH journal team was able to attend one of the monthly meetings of the water user committee. From the deliberations, it was established that the 12-member committee that oversees the work of the seven smaller Water User Committees of each tap stand was able to collect Shs801,000 cash at hand with the treasurer. In addition, the committees to handle minor repairs and fencing of all water points spent Shs1,630,000. From the savings the persons of concern
have decided to form a Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO) from this Sacco, members will be able to borrow money to use in business and daily needs and pay back with a small interest that is yet to be agreed upon. It was established in the meeting, however, that there was need to boost the savings before the money is lent out. The committee members were then advised, to start a membership fund, to which each interested member would contribute Shs5,000 in order to be initiated into the Sacco. WASH Journal Managing Director, Mr Charles Opolot, who offered the advice to the meeting also went ahead to initiate this membership fund with a contribution of Shs300,000 to initiate 60 members into the Sacco. With a challenge on how to recover the money borrowed by the members, the meeting was left to deliberate on whether to lend money to individuals or to groups. “Refugee participation in the operation and maintenance of the safe water supply schemes is very critical in achieving long term sustainability of the water infrastructure,� Michael Bazira, WMU Country Director.
September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 31
Wash Media Awards - 2017
Kampala Sheraton Hotel was on October 20, 2017 night the scene of jubilation as journalists from different media houses received their awards during the second edition of the Uganda WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Media awards. The Uganda WASH Media Awards was established last year with the aim of recognising and rewarding excellent reporting on water, sanitation and hygiene for sustainable development. The event was graced by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Water and Environment, Mr. Alfred Okot Okidi,and representatives of the various non-government organisations dealing in WASH. 34 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
Wash Media Awards - 2017
September - December, 2017 | WASH JOURNAL | 35
Wash Media Awards - 2017
Partner organisations involved in Wash
Oxfam started working in Uganda in the 1960s. Since then, we have implemented both development and humanitarian programmes to support practical and innovative ways for people to lift themselves out of poverty. Oxfam envisions Uganda free of extreme inequality and injustice; a society where citizens and particularly women across all age groups claim and exercise their rights and responsibilities and can influence decisions that affect their lives. Our one country program is hinged on three thematic goals which aim to promote women’s rights, good governance and accountability, resilient livelihoods, as well as enhance preparedness, reduce vulnerability to disaster and ensure an effective response to humanitarian crises.
Plan is a child-centered community development organization that has been working in Uganda since 1992 to help vulnerable children access their rights, reads a brief on their twitter page. Among other things, they promote safe water usage among children, hand-washing behaviour among children and promote sanitary pads among the girl child, as well as inculcating good health practices and skills. Info Plan Uganda sponsors about 39,700 children, their families and communities in 5 districts across the country: Tororo, Kamuli, Luweero, Kampala and Lira.
Water Mission Uganda (WMU) is a Non-Profit Christian Engineering ministry working to improve access to sustainable safe water and sanitation solutions. WMU is affiliated to Water Mission headquartered in N. Charleston, USA, with a vision to be recognized globally as a Best in Class Christian Engineering Ministry in the area of water and sanitation by 2017. WMU has implemented 105 Safe Water Projects, serving over 300,000 people in 33 districts of Uganda since 2007.
36 | WASH JOURNAL | September - December, 2017
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