PILOTING SAVINGS CULTURE AT WATER USER LEVEL.

COMPILED BY;

GEOFFREY BWAMBALE WASH MANGER KALI

KALI in partnership with SNV and Kasese district local government has been implementing Community Empowerment Programme/CEP for the last three years. The purpose for this program has been to empower community members to own their services. Water users contribute water user fee so that O&M of water source is ensured, this has been coupled to the promotion of VSLA locally known as Yahura Yehoza/YY. The savings scheme innovation by water users is aimed at improving HH incomes and sustaining water user fee collections.

Following a number of meetings and experience sharing with different stakeholders in Bwera and Nyakiyumbu sub counties, the Yahura Yehoza (YY) initiative was introduced and Mithimusanju tap stand community picked up as the first group in January 2013. On the22^ndmay 2013 an exposure/learning Visit of the 14 tap stand committee members was organized to learn from Mithimusanju YY, since then, the scheme has registered strong YY groups.

Before the introduction of the CWASH project, there was no tap stand with YY. Now in 2014, 10 0ut of 15 tap stands have functional Yahura Yehoza/YY. These save and borrow money weekly with a simple interest ranging from 5% to 10%.This has increased their savings for example in 2013 the pilot year, UGX 9,593,000 was saved by 08 YY groups.

Because of good mentorship under this project, from Jan-March 2014, over UGX 8,000,000= has been collected. This depicts great willingness of water users to save and borrow.

Table 2. Showing progress on YY at tap stands from 2013 to 2014.

No	Name of tap	Parish	July-Sept	Jan-April 2014
1	Mithimusanju tap-(Mithi7 water user SACCO)	Kisaka	5,702,300=	5,200,000
4	Nyamughona Catholic Church-tap-.St.MariaGorrete	Kisaka	585,000=	1,225,500
3	Nyamughona t/c tap	Kisaka	490,000=	300,000
5	Mubutu tap	Nyakasojo	470,000=	3,085,000
6	Kayibindulha tap	Lyakirema II	270,000=	2,600,000
7	James Tap	Lyakirema II	280,000=	1,500,000
8	Kahwangwa tap	Lyakirema II	00	1,000,000
9	Nyamughona Church of Uganda tap	Nyamughuna II	00	180,000
10	Ndanda tap	Lyakilema II	00	523,000=
				5,024,500=

Table 2 above, shows YY groups and savings for each. Apart from Kaibibdulha and James water user SACCO, Others shared their savings and profits by the end of December 2013, and started again in January 2014.

  Cases/success stories.

 

Above,Mbambu Birinadeta right explains as Mr. Kayuwa SACCO mobilizer looks on.

The best of Mithi7 YY members

Mbambu Bernadette became the best in Mithimusanju water user SACCO savings with UGX 380,000 which earned her UGX 50,000 profits. This increased her package to UGX 430,000=“It is true, small savings can change one’s life, I do not believe myself that I saved more than those richer than me!! Bernadette says”. She owns a small scale retail shop.

Mithimusanju water YY/user SACCO, started in Jan. 2013 with 60 members. By December 2013, they had save UGX 5,200,000= this earned them a profit of UGX 749,000= the members agreed to share their savings annually. 

The strength of community mobilization

James Tap Community members are one of the newly mobilized YY group after the Mithi7 learning Visit by 14 tap stand committee members held on 22thMay 2013. By end of July-Sept 2013 period, this group had mobilized UGX280, 000= when followed up OCT-Dec quarter 2013, the group has increased YY savings to UGX444, 200= and constructed a tap shelter which has helped them collect WUF. Amos says, “This house has helped us collect WUF because we open from 7:00am-9:00am, 1:00pm-2:00pm and 5:00-8:0pm especially at the end of the month when we expect members to pay their monthly water user fee. The group has currently total savings of UGX1, 105,000 saved by March 2014.

 

 In the Photo above, Community development officer Bwera S/C explaining the purpose of registering the water SACCO at sub county.

KALI Repairs water facilities at Schools and Health Centres in Kasese

KALI with support from SNV carried out water facilities repairs in schools and health centers under the CDC project. The repairs were done in 20 sites of schools and health centre in Kasese district.

The assignment included; Building protection wall around tank, Construction of a draw off point with gravel at the base, fixing Gutters, Connection of the storage tank to the Gravity flow scheme, Extension of water to the laboratory, Extend the GFS, Construction of a tank base at the centre of the gable end to allow the tank draw water from both sides of the roof among others.

The table showing the work done at each facility:

S/n	Name of Facility and Sub county	Nature of work completed at Facility
01	Kibwe Primary School. Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town council	Extended water/GFS using a 1/2 inch HDPE pipe 50m away from the main pipeline/source with Stand pipe, fittings (tap stand).
02	Nyabugando H/C III, Mpondwe L T/C	Extension of water to the laboratory using a 12.5mm HDPE pipe
03	St. Mary's Kyabolokya;  Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town council	Built a protection wall around 2tanks 2.8m high well plastered and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off on both tanks
04	Ruses Primary School,  Mpondwe-Lhubiriha T/C	Extended water/ the GFS using a 12.5mm HDPE pipe 50m away from main pipeline/source
05	St. Joseph Musyenene  P/S;  Nyakiyumbu S/C	Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off.
06	Kyaminyawandi P/S Nyakiyumbu S/C	Constructed a tank base, Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off.
07	Nyakahya Primary School; Mpondwe-Lhubiriha T/C	Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off.
08	Nyakabale C.O.U P/S; Bwera Sub County.	Built a protection wall around 2tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off on both tanks.
09	St. Comboni Primary School; Isango Sub County	Built a protection wall around tank 2.8m high well plastered with a water draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off.
10	Kabusongora Primary School, Ihandiro Sub County	Built a protection wall around tank 2.8m high well plastered with a water draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off.
11	Bwera Demonstration School; Bwera Sub County	Built a protection wall around tank 2.8m high well plastered with a water draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off.
12	Kyempara Health centre II; Isango Sub County	Built a protection wall around tank 2.8m high well plastered with a water draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off.
13	Mushenene H/C III; Nyakiyumbu S/C	Completion of a 4 stance, staff latrine. This was requested by the health centre management. Originally, the facility would have repairs on the two water tanks. However, the tanks were improved by putting delivery pipes, splash guards, GI wire on the gutters and end cups on the two tans.
14	St. Kizito Primary school Karambi Sub County.	Built a protection wall around tank 2.8m high well plastered with a water draw off point, fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards and Connected water into the tank.
15	Kayanzi Primary school Nyakiyumbu Sub County	Constructed a tank base, Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off
16	Kiruli SDA Primary School; Kistawamba Sub county	Constructed a tank base, Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off
17	Motomoto Primary School; Kistawamba Sub county	Constructed a tank base, Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off
18	Kitswamba Moslem Primary School; Kistawamba Sub county	Constructed a tank base, Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off
19	Muzahura P/S, Kitswamba Sub county	Constructed a tank base, Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off
20	Kabuyiri SDA primary school; Maliba Sub county	Constructed a tank base, Built a protection wall around tanks 2.8m high well plastered with a draw off point and fixed 6m (20ft) long gutters with gutter brackets at 600mm c/c strengthened at each tie beam with a 3mm GI wire fixed at the top of the purl in with a complete set of splash guards where water is anticipated to splash off