Uganda: Sources with functional Water User Committees never run dry

Published on: 04/05/2011

In March 2011, the Lira District Water and Sanitation Coordination Committee (DWSCC) made unannounced field visits to various water sources. The idea was to perform impromptu check-ups on the functionality of the Water User Committees (WUC) and the situation of sanitation in the communities which use the sources.

In Telela village, if your household is found without a latrine the team confiscates your goat or chickens

Of five sources visited in Barr and Lira sub-counties, two were very well managed and three were poorly managed. These observations leaves one to question: what is it that makes one community maintain its source where others are failing? Is there any magic formula leading to effective management and maintenance of a rural water source? The findings during these visits indentified several factors of effective and ineffective source management.

Successful source management was observed at two locations: Okello Omuku shallow well in Akolodong village and Kullu Ongora borehole in Telela Village. On the other hand, Olaka Annex deep borehole in Ariac parish, Ongika B in Aminodur village, and Ober Oyere shallow well in Abunga village were found to be wanting in their management.

So what were some of the challenges that hampered proper resource management, and what were the factors that allowed water sources to continuously function?

Factors for effective source management

Factors that allowed water sources to continuously function include:

Committed and active water user committees

At Okello Omuku, the shallow well (since 2009) has never broken down, thanks to the efforts by community members led by their user committee. At Kullu Ongora where some committee members were not showing commitment, the other members had already started debating what to do with them. They were considering asking them to resign.

Good cooperation between users and user committees

At both sources, users reported that they had a good working relationship with their WUCs. Although the committee members take the lead, they could not make much headway without the cooperation of the water users themselves.

 

The gender factor

Women held key positions on the committees at both sources. “The men are always too busy so they can’t dedicate time to manage the well,” said Katrina Akia the WUC vice chairperson at Okello Amuku well.

Positive community attitudes towards making contributions for O&M

Once the community members pay up their fees, the committee doesn’t face many difficulties in maintaining the facility, even when it breaks down.

Motivation and encouragement given during field monitoring visits

Committee members reported that they feel encouraged and motivated by the kind remarks that visitors make when they visit their sources.  

Training of water user committees

Whenever sources are established, the WUC members are given some training on how to manage their sources. Emma Obong, a member of the WUC at Kullu Ongora said that she had been trained in basic repairs and she has never used her skill to do a minor repair on the borehole.

 

Influence of the Village Health Teams on sanitation practices

Village Health Teams (VHTs) have been very instrumental in ensuring that community members observe good sanitation and hygiene in order to avoid contaminating sources. In Akilodong village where Okello Amuku well is found, all households have latrines. Only one very old and vulnerable lady didn’t have a latrine and the WUC had tasked her grandsons to construct one for her. In Telela village, all households accessing Kullu Ongora borehole had latrines.

Enforcement of by-laws:

At Kullu Oringa borehole, those who litter are fined while at Okello Amuku well dirty containers are prohibited. Those with dirty jerry cans are chased away from the well. Meanwhile, in Telela village, if your household is found without a latrine the team confiscates your goat or chickens.

Factors for ineffective source management

Factors that hampered proper source management include:

• Lack of commitment of WUCs to their roles and responsibilities e.g they don’t conduct regular meetings. At Olaka Annex, the committee had been trained but they were not holding meetings.
• Some WUCs are not trained as was the case in Ongika B and Ober Oyere.
• Poor management system: In Ober Oyere, the committee decided to pay a caretaker to maintain the well, yet the caretaker was also a member of the committee. The committee failed to sustain the caretaker’s salary and he also stopped maintaining the well. Had they opted to mobilise the community members to do work, it might have been easier and more sustainable.
• Poor workmanship: Some sources are constructed in a shoddy manner. E.g the splash apron at Ober Oyere shallow well has a crack which causes dirty water to flow back into the source.