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Access to safe and clean drinking water, as well as adequate sanitation, is universally recognised as a fundamental human right essential for the enjoyment of life and the realisation of all other rights (UN 2016). Poor WASH practices have been reported to contribute to diarrhoea-associated infections, which contribute to 50% of undernutrition among under-five children globally (USAID Report, 2015). In Kabale district, where approximately 266 water points schemes have been non-functional, establishment and operationalisation of water user committees is crucial to Right2Grows’goal of zero under- nutrition and zero people without access to basic WASH.
Recognising this need, The Hunger Project-Uganda, in collaboration with Create Impact Initiative, a community-based organisation implementing the Right2Grow programme in Kabale, collaborated with local authorities to address water and sanitation challenges. In March 2024, the team conducted extensive awareness campaigns, including parish-based dialogues that engaged 70 community members (50 women and 20 men). These dialogues provided a platform to discuss water issues, share knowledge and promote improved hygiene practices. According to Kabale District’s Water Officer, the sensitisation dialogues realised a notable change on how people view water, sanitation and hygiene. “People are more willing to adopt better practices because they understand the impact on their health,” he explains.
As a result of these dialogues, the community members formed 22 Water User Committees in Kamuganguzi Sub-County, each comprising approximately five members. The Water User Committee is a government structure mandated to protect water sources. It is provided for in the Water Act (1995) as well as National Water Policy (1999). These committees play an essential role in managing community water points by overseeing their operation and maintenance. Their responsibilities include collecting water user fees for regular upkeep, monitoring water quality, promoting safe water handling practices and encouraging the adoption of healthy WASH practices.
The established committees have promoted good WASH practices, demonstrating the community’s efforts to invest in sustainable positive impacts on community health and well-being.
Ms. Zerida Rindabo, the Senior Assistant Secretary of Kamuganguzi Sub-County says that the formation of the committees empowered local people, especially women who constitute 70% of all the committees, to take responsibility for their water sources and ensure that hygiene standards are maintained. “Women now have more influence in making decisions that affect their families and communities. Women, who for long have been primarily responsible for water collection and sanitation in households, are now taking leadership roles in these committees,” she says.
With the leadership of committed community members and the support of local authorities, Kamuganguzi Sub-County is on track to become a model for good WASH practices in Kabale District. The community's ability to come together, with a strong focus on WASH and gender inclusion, is laying the groundwork for sustainable and lasting change
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