Mbarara struggling to end open defecation

Image source: Global Waters/World Bank

Mbarara District in western Uganda is still struggling to end open defecation. The practice is still common in Rwanyamahembe, Rubindi and Rubaya sub counties, Bwizi Bwera town council and areas near River Rwizi in Mbarara municipality such as Kashayanrazi, Kiyanja and Katete.

Open defecation refers to the practice whereby people go out in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water, or other open spaces rather than using the toilet to defecate.

Residents in the said areas reportedly ease themselves in banana plantations, swamps and farm lands. The faecal matter is eroded to valleys, which connect to water sources. Mr Sergius Mugume, a resident of Bwizibwera town council faults district authorities for failing to crack a whip on those involved in open defecation.

He says some of the local leaders don’t have toilets in their homes and lack the moral authority to take action.
Ms Scovia Kyomuhendo, a resident of Rubaya says several residents in the area practice open defecation despite the presence of toilet facilities.

She says that some of the people prefer bushes because of cultural beliefs, which don’t allow in laws to share toilets.
Ms Kyomuhendo says besides educating residents on proper hygiene practices there is need to encourage them to abandon irresponsible cultural practices.

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Ntungamo authorities raise concern over open defecation

The area leaders during a cleaning exercise recently said faecal material is being littered on streets and drainage channels

Mr Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the Mbarara Municipal mayor, says it is high time that residents understand that they live in a modern era. He says that they are working closely with lower local council officials to apprehend all those involved in open defecation.
Mr Kweyamba Ruhemba, the Mbarara Chief Administrative Officer, says open defecation is still a serious challenge, adding that they are working closely with local leaders to ensure that all residents sink pit latrines.

Mr Ruhemba says that although the district lacks statistics about the people without toilets there is genuine concern. He says the district set aside Shillings 60 million this financial year to carter for construction of toilet facilities and sensitization campaign.

Access to sanitation has been essential for human dignity, health and well-being.

Despite 15 years of conjunctive efforts under global action plans such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), targets for improved sanitation were not met, resulting in 2.5 billion people not having access to improved sanitation facilities (flush latrine or pit latrine) and nearly 892 million of the total world’s population still practicing open defecation, according to a recent report by BMC Public Health.

Open defecation exposes women to the danger of physical attacks and encounters such as snake bites.
Poor sanitation also cripples national development: workers produce less, live shorter lives, save and invest less, and are less able to send their children to school, according to UNICEF.

Awareness campaigns, media exposure, and pressure from school-age children, are some of the drivers of increased awareness towards behaviour change. Further, with a growing population and increasing agricultural cultivation and urbanization, the number of spaces available for open defecation continues to reduce.