Kampala sanitation program

• Reference: P-UG-E00-008
• Approval date: 16/12/2008
• Start date: 16/12/2009
• Status: ApprovedAPVD
• Country: Uganda
• Sector: Water Supply & Sanitation

The objectives of the project are i.,,To improve the health and living standards of the urban poor residents in the Nakivubo catchment. The Kampala sewerage network has hitherto served only 7.3% of the population, mainly in the Central Business District and the affluent areas. The project aims at improving sanitation services to increase coverage to 30%, of mainly the urban poor population, living in the informal settlements. ii.,,To improve environmental sustainability of the Lake Victoria basin through reduction of pollution entering the lake through the Nakivubo channel. and iii.,,To improve the quality of lives of the residents in informal settlements in Kampala, who largely live below the poverty line, through improved management of sludge from domestic sanitation facilities and provision of hygiene education.

1,,Currently the sewered area of Kampala serves about 7.3% of the population of the city; mainly in the CBD. The sewerage treatment plant that serves the city is located in Bugolobi in Kampala. The Bugolobi Sewage Treatment Plant (BSTP) which was constructed in the 1940's and upgraded in 1970 operates as a conventional treatment plant. Only 55% of the sewage generated within the catchment area (Nakivubo catchment) is received at the sewage treatment plant. Owing to technical inadequacies in the sewerage infrastructure, the rest of the sewage ends up into wetlands around Kampala.

2,,Majority of residents (92.7%) use on-site sanitation systems (septic tanks, pit latrines). On-site sanitation is likely to remain the most appropriate sanitation solution for many residents for the foreseeable future. However, in most of these areas, particularly in the densely populated slum areas of the city, provision of public and household on-site sanitation is never institutionally supported in terms of operation and maintenance. Furthermore, cesspool emptier services, which are offered mainly by private sector on a cash-on-demand basis are inadequate. As a result, effluent from latrines and septic tanks are often discharged into the environment untreated.

3,,Storm water from the city is largely drained through the Nakivubo open channel. This channel drains into Nakivubo swamp and ultimately into the Inner Murchison Bay of Lake Victoria, which is also the source of abstraction for the drinking water for Kampala. Studies have shown that the Nakivubo swamp, which is a natural barrier, could offer significant pre-treatment to reduce pollution loading of the channel. However, due to high runoff, the channel has created a deep canal within the swamp, hence flowing undisturbed (short circuiting), straight into the lake.

4,,Furthermore, Kampala city generates about 25,000 tons of solid waste. However only 10% of this is collected. The rest of the solid waste is disposed via indiscriminate dumping and finds its way into the Nakivubo channel and /or the sewer network and ultimately into the Inner Murchison Bay. This has exacerbated the sanitation problems faced in the sewerage system and the L. Victoria.

ASSEFAW Mecuria - OWAS2