AFDB Funds Urban Poor Sanitation In Uganda

The African Development Bank has invested $1.3 million in urban poor sanitation improvement in Uganda. As a result of this there has been an improvement in the decline of Typhoid fever and Diarrhoea significantly in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

Kawempe being a subdivision of Kampala has developed rapidly over the years, but water and sanitation infrastructure in this area dominated by swampy lowlands has been scarce.

Urban Poor Sanitation Improvement Project (KUPSIP), carried out in the area from 2013 to 2018, has helped to reduce typhoid fever cases by 7.7% and diarrhoea cases by 49.3%.

The project was highly successful in getting its message about improved sanitation out to the wider Kawempe community. This is evident in the total number of people who benefitted from the campaign and in the positive health outcomes.

According to the African Development Bank the initiative has enabled the installation of sanitation facilities in the main public places of Kawempe, particularly especially in markets and in school grounds.

A total of 240 public sanitation facilities with hand-washing points were built, as well as family facilities for landlords and tenants sanitation facilities were erected in some schools with hand-washing points, which benefitted2,523 pupils

Sanitation and hygiene clubs were also created in schools to reach out to pupils on topics of improved sanitation, combining distribution of information, education and communication materials with cleaning materials.

The project also provided job opportunities for people in the area. Employment were created for cesspool emptying lorry drivers, bricklayers, latrine attendants and additional staff were brought on board to oversee the loan programme.

The AFDB noted that over 165,000 people benefitted from the project in the last three years, through the different pathways of the project.