PRO-POOR SOLUTIONS TO URBAN WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION: THE CASE OF KAMPALA

Mushabe, S., Tibanyendera, B., Aharikundira, M. And Namukasa, L.

Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, has a population of 1.8 million people (UN- HABITAT 2010). About 85 per cent of the city’s population lives in slums (UN-HABITAT 2010). These informal settlements cover 25 per cent of the total area of the city, and are underserved with improved drinking water and sanitation services.

SUDAN KENYA Kitgum Kotido Gulu Moroto

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Lake Albert

Hoima Masindi Lira Lothaa

Lake Kwania

Lake Kyoga

Kamuli FortPortal Kasese Ibanda Masaka Mbarara Kabale TANZANIA RWANDA Lake Victoria

Kampala is located on hilly terrain at an altitude of about 1300 m above sea level. The city is on the north shore of Lake Victoria, and has a tropical wet and dry climate. Many parts of the city are vulnerable to frequent and severe flooding (World Bank 2007, Businge and others 2010).

43 Mubende Bombo

Kampala Entebbe

Jinja KENYA Soroti Namalu Kumi Kapchorwa Mbale Iganga Tororo

The largely poor residents of Kampala’s slums depend on water from unhygienic sources such as rivers, ponds shallow wells and springs. About 92 per cent of the city’s population has access to improved water (UN-HABITAT 2010).

Access to adequate sanitation is very low in Kampala. It is estimated that 8.4 per cent of the city’s households and commercial buildings is connected to the sewer network (ATPS undated). The majority of the city residents depend on latrines, septic tanks and open systems for sanitation. These disposal means are a major cause of pollution of groundwater, the main freshwater source for the poor.

The city is rapidly expanding, bringing with it loss of arable land to settlements, and degradation of essential ecosystems, including wetlands and forests. Industrial activities such as food processing and textiles are often blamed for pollution, although this is not regularly monitored.