A World Bank sponsored baseline survey on integrity in Uganda’s water supply and sanitation sector found that between US$ 5 million (€ 3.38 million) and US$ 10 million (€ 6.77 million) meant to improve access to safe water for drinking in Uganda is lost to corruption annually. Bewteen 10 and 20 per cent of the money given to contractors is spent on kickbacks, significantly reducing the extent to which the contract can deliver on improving access to safe water and sanitation.

To address outright corruption as well as influence peddling by politicians, some stakeholders are advocating an independent regulator, and introduction of integrity pacts between the government and contractors, to be monitored by civil society. The idea of establishing such a body first emerged in 2003 after a series of corruption cases. However, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NW&SC) argues that a regulatory body would only increase water tariffs and advocates for a regulatory framework with guidelines to be implemented by a select committee and supported by the existing accountability institutions such as the ombudsman and the procurement regulator.

At the 2009 World Water Week in Stockholm, Donal O’Leary Sr. Advisor, Transparency International (TI) and Maria Jacobsson, Associate Expert for WSP-Africa, gave a presentation [1] on water integrity studies in Uganda. They mention that the findings were to presented at a Water Integrity Workshop in Kampala on 2-3 September 2009.

See also the Ugandan case study [2] published in March 2009 by the Water Integrity Network (WIN).

[1] Status of Water Integrity Studies in Uganda

[2] “Uganda: Citizens Action for Accountable WATSAN Services in the Slums of Kawempe – Kampala City”

Related news: Kenya: Nairobi water board sent packing following reports on malpractices, Source Weekly, 07 Aug 2009

Related web site: Water Integrity Network (WIN)

Contact: National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Uganda, info@nwsc.co.ug, http://www.nwsc.co.ug/

Source: Malingha Doya, East African / allAfrica.com, 07 Sep 2009

Tags: africa, policies & legislation, transparency, water resources management, water supply