CSBAG BUDGET NEWS BRIEF

119th EDITION | 27th July -2nd August 2015

Is Sanitation MOU between Ministries of Water, Health &

Education Effective?
As of June 2014, the Ugandan population with
access to safe water in urban areas was 72.8%,
while the rural population with access to safe
water was at 64% against the National
Development Plan target of 77% by 2015. The
national household latrine coverage is currently
at 74.8% from 71% in 2013 (SPR 2014) while
hand-washing with soap after latrine usage has
improved and is at 32.8% from 29% previously.
The percentage coverage of hand-washing
facilities in schools is 38% against a target of
45%, and the pupil to latrine stance ratio is at
70:1, against a target of 50:1 (Joint Sector
Performance Report 2014). (SPR 2004)
a) The Ministry of Water and Environment is
responsible for planning investment in
sewerage services and public facilities in
towns and rural growth centres.
b) The Ministry of Health is responsible for
household hygiene and sanitation.
c) The Ministry of Education and Sports is
responsible for school latrine construction
and hygiene education.
With the signing of the MOU, it was agreed that
the three lead ministries would implement these
institutional
responsibilities,
including
prioritization of resources for sanitation and
hygiene promotion. The splitting of mandates
between the three ministries impeded a
coordinated approach towards sanitation and
hygiene promotion at the district and local
levels. The lack of a clear institutional home for
sanitation has continued to hamper progress in
this area, poor financing and the lack of a
specific national sanitation policy to guide
sanitation service delivery has had a detrimental
impact on the achievement of sanitation goals
and commitments by the Government and
development partners.
In an exclusive interview with Frank
Twinamatsiko a Policy and Advocacy Analyst at
Uganda Water and Sanitation Network
(UWASNET), he informed CSBAG that According
to the Memorandum of Understanding, the
different ministries had different roles to play in
its operationalization. Ministry of health was
responsible for community hygiene like
sensitisation of the communities on hygiene and
sanitation, ministry of education was
responsible for school sanitation and hygiene

The MOU does not clarify the issue of funding; its

sources, mechanisms, and types of activities that
should be funded. Even though there is an implicit
subsidy policy at work through the sector
conditional grants, there is no written subsidy
policy for sanitation- and hygiene-related
activities.
Furthermore, guidance on how coordination
should proceed at the national and local levels is
not specified in the sanitation memorandum
although delivery of sanitation and hygiene is a
cross-sectoral activity and is highly dependent on
coordination between relevant sectors.
The percentage coverage of hand-washing
facilities in schools is 38% against a target of
45%. Photo by Coca cola
and Ministry of Water and Environment was
responsible for providing infrastructure like
boreholes to schools and water points.
According to this MoU, the three Ministries are
each mandated to allocate funds for improving
the sanitation and hygiene conditions but to
date only Ministry of Water and Environment has
faithfully allocated funds to this cause. A study
in 2009 recommended the establishment of a
separate budget line for sanitation, which was
created but left unfunded until the FY 2011/12.
During the FY 2013/14 for example, the Ministry
of Water and Environment, through the
Sanitation District Grant, allocated UGX 2bn to
Ugandan districts, with each district receiving
between UGX 19mn to UGX 21mn. However, the
Ministries of Education and Health are still to
input into the separate budget line despite the
fact that they are also sanitation line ministries.
Whereas the 2001 Sanitation MOU defines key
responsibilities and mandates, it contains
numerous ambiguities which among other
include:
The MOU ignores the role of Ministry of Local
Government (MLG) or the Ministry of Gender,
Labour, and Social Development (MGLSD). Given
the oversight role of the MLG in monitoring,
advising, and providing technical assistance to
all local government and Ministry of Genders
responsibility of developing policies and
guidelines
with
respect
to
community
mobilization
and
empowerment,
gender
responsiveness, and mentoring of community
development.

Poor coordination between the three Ministries

has made it hard for the ministries to allocate
funds to operationalize the MOU. Thanks to the
Office of the Prime Minister that has come in to
do the coordination role as a presidential
initiative.
None commitment of resources by the ministries
that signed the memorandum of understanding
which has led to deterioration of sanitation and
hygiene conditions especially at school level.
The MOU does not differentiate between the
mandate extra related sanitation and for
environmental sanitation that includes solid waste
management and drainage.
Finally, there is no legal basis for implementing
the Memorandum of Understanding. Even though
the MOU spells out institutional mandates, there
are no clear accountability mechanisms that can
be enforced on the basis of a legal framework.
All the above have affected the implementation of
the MOU. CSBAG notes that whereas the Office of
the Prime Minister has taken up the Coordination
function for the three ministries to ensure
sanitation and hygiene is boosted in the country,
and is accountable to cabinet and parliament,
there is need for clarity on other agencies like
Ministry of Gender Labour and Social
Development and Ministry of Local Governments
who have a role to play. Government.
CSBAG urges CSOs in the relevant sectors to
prioritise sanitation issues in their advocacy
campaigns
for
improved
prioritization
implementation for sanitation and hygiene in the
country.

QUICK WATER, HYGIENE AND SANITATION FY 2015/2016 BUDGET FACTS

RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND
SANITATION TARGETS.

URBAN WATER SUPPLY AND

SANITATION TARGETS.

Water supply systems for Buboko-Bukoli

(Namyingo), Bududa- Nabweya (Bududa) And Lirima
(Manafwa) to be finalised.
Gravity flow Schemes for Kahama (ntungamo),
Kanyampanga and nyarwodho (alwi) to be completed

24 rural piped water systems in Sanga, Buyumba,

Kainja, Butare, Mashonga, Kasagama, Kinuka, Kaliiro,
Nyahuka, Kyegegwa, Mpara, Lwebitakuri, kyabi, Lwemiyaga,,
Nyakaskaka, Nyamunuka, Rwashamire, Kambuga, Kihihi,
Nsika, Rubirizi, kashaka-Bubara, kiko, Karago and Butogota
to be completed.

Detailed designs of Orom, Potika, Nyabugasani,

Ogili, Bwera, Bukedea gravity flow Schemes to be
finalised,

67 Households and 17 primary school in Kalongo,

Midigo, Pajule, Okollo, Amach & Pacego Loro, Bibia/Elegu,
Pabbo, Odramacaku to receive Ecosan toilets & school
toilets.

10 gravity flow Schemes of Kasheregenyi,

Rwamucucu, Muyebe (Kabale) Karukata, Karunoni
(Rukungiri), Kitswamba (Kasese), Shuuku, Masyoro
(Sheema), Kikyenkye-nyabuhikye (ibanda), gravity
flow Schemes will include lwamata (Kiboga) & lukaru
(butambala), nyarusiza, Muramba & cyaki (Kisoro),
Kisoko-paya, Kirewa -nabuyoga (tororo), rugarama
and Manda in Sheema construction of lirima phase
II, Bududa phase II will commence to be
rehabilitated.

12 household in former IDP camps/ towns to receive

Ecosan toilets in Namukora, Paloga, Palabek-ogir, Lagoro,
Muchwini & Palabong.
62 public sanitation facilities to be constructed in 34
towns.
85 demonstration toilets to be constructed in 15 towns.
Regional faecal sludge & sewerage management
systems in Kayunga, Kagadi, Nakasongol and Kiboga towns
to be constructed

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Produced by the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG).

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