The project objective is to increase the supply of water supply and sanitation (WSS) services, primarily in towns in the North and East of Uganda, areas that host a large number of refugees. The project components consist of; construction of WSS facilities, preparing sanitation plans for small towns, strengthening umbrella water authorities (UWAs), as well as the construction of WSS infrastructure in larger municipalities with large refugee populations.
Busia Town Water Supply System (TWSS) is one of the projects that was designed under the previous Water Management and Development Project (WMDP) and it is an extension of the water projects implemented in Pallisa, Kumi and Angola districts in the eastern part of the country. The project has faced a number of challenges that caused delays in the implementation of more than two years. Major challenges included lack of land and funding for the project. These however have been overcome as land for the intake works was acquired and compensation done. The project is planned to be financed under the Integrated Water Management and Development Project (IWMDP) and was commissioned on 27th June 2019. Currently the Ministry of Water and Environment is in the process of procuring a consultant and a contractor. The ToRs and expression of interest were already approved by World Bank and work is expected to begin early 2019. The Water Management and Development Project will construct, improve and expand existing water supply infrastructure and sanitation/sewerage services in Busia Municipality. Under the same project the Ministry of Water and Environment will construct 6 water bone toilets in areas of Dabani market, Sofia market, Busia H/C IV, Busia taxi park, and two in two primary schools. The Busia Water Supply and Sanitation Project will equally serve satellite towns in the Sub-counties of Majanji, Okame-Abochet Lumino, Buhehe, Masafu, Masaba, Dabani, Buteba, Masinya and Sikuda.
The key concern is that 5.6% of the project affected persons were widowed, 3.1% were child headed families while 48.4% were either disabled or chronically ill. The proposed project should therefore put in place mechanisms to meet the needs of marginalized groups including improving on their livelihoods but also making sure that the project does not negatively impact persons with disabilities.
Busia, one of the municipalities slated for WSS infrastructure work, has a high number of persons with disabilities, identified as almost half of the project-affected people (PAPs) in the initial Environmental and Social Assessment, which underscores the urgency of the need for comprehensive disability inclusion. Generally, we have concerns that persons with disabilities will face barriers to accessing WSS facilities, and that fees for WSS services may place an undue burden on persons with disabilities, who are more likely to experience poverty than persons without disabilities. This is even more concerning given the fact that the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) failed to highlight who the project-affected people are and what barriers they might face in accessing project benefit.
As indicated by the high percentage of PAPs with disabilities, these border towns are home to persons with disability from across Uganda. This is due to the fact that businessmen will often pay persons with disabilities to smuggle goods across the border using their disability as a sort of "passport" and hiding goods in wheelchairs and other assistive devices. Because of the prevalence of disability among residents, the discrepancy between the ESIA and RAP is even more glaring.
The World Bank is providing $280 million out of a total project cost of $313 million.
Although the Resettlement Action Plan suggests a Grievance Management Procedure to mainly look at issues related to compensation, we further recommend a Grievance Management procedure that will look at issues such as sexual violence against children (SVC), gender-based violence (GBV), child labor, accidents, etc that might raise once the project work commences.
Using the participatory and continuous approach in terms of stakeholder engagement throughout the project cycle is very important for social acceptance of the project as well as community involvement.
Setting up labor camps will be important to monitor the workers activities within the community as well for easy identification in case of violation of community rights. Workers code of conduct and trainings such as HIV/AIDs prevention are as well key.
To further create a smooth working relationship between the District and the Contractor, we recommend that an MOU is signed between the two parties highlighting areas such as social protection of community members (HIV/AIDs, GBV, SVC), labor influx management, grievance mechanism matrix, corporate social responsibility etc.
Since 48.4% of the PAPs are persons with disabilities, we recommend close monitoring of the project by the Ministry of Water and Environment, District officials and the World Bank to ensure that the vulnerable and the community at large are protected from any harm. We recommend that the World Bank consult with persons with disabilities and disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs) regarding how the Bank can ensure accessibility to WSS services and the physical safety of persons with disabilities in the project area. Once construction begins, the construction areas need to be properly cordoned off and and easy to understand notices of hazardous construction areas need to be posted. WSS facilities must also be made fully accessible to persons with disabilities, not only for those with limited mobility, but for all.
