Day 6 – School Visit and Tour through the Kampala Slums

Today was a busy (and tiring) day and one I will likely never forget.  Today was the day I saw first hand what the ‘slums’ are like.  
 

We left the hotel before 8 am and travelled to the office of another one WaterCans’ partner organizations who implement projects (3^rd one so far).  They are known as CIDI which stands for ‘Community Integrated Development Initiatives’.  We did introductions and then CIDI staff presented an overview of their work.  Note that each of the partner organizations has its own focus.  CIDI focuses on: (1) water, sanitation and hygiene, (2) sustainable agriculture, (3) health care promotion, and (4) lobbying and advocacy.  

After leaving CIDI’s office, we visited the Lubiri Primary School in Kampala.  This is an inner city school with about 600 students.  Upon arrival, the students greeted us with songs.  This was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony for the school’s new latrine funded by WaterCan.  This was followed by a presentation by students (very good singing and dancing), local politicians, and school management.  Then the WaterCan study tour members had a chance to give the school some gifts (school supplies, tooth paste, and soccer balls).  Shortly after the ceremony, we left and headed for the slums.

Lubiri Primary School Kids

Ribbon cutting for new latrine at Lubiri Primary School

Kids signing inside Lubiri Primary School

Next, we were off to visit the Kampala slums.  As soon as we got out of our vans, we were immediately greeted by loud music and a place to sit for yet another presentation about a WaterCan funded project.  This project was a new Water Kiosk which allows those living in a specific ‘zone’ in the slums to access clean water at a much reduced rate (1/5 of the rate others in the slums would pay).  It took me a while to get my head around how those living in the slums pay for their water.  Here is what I learned (simplified as much as I can, but perhaps in some engineering lingo):

1. Many people living in the slums get their water from a spring.  There is no cost for this water but it is very dirty/contaminated.  This is not the preferred option.
2. For some, they can buy water through the National Water & Sewage Corporation.  This is the same water that others in Kampala use which are outside slums and in serviced areas.  This water would be available near the slums (still not real convenient) but the water rate is much higher than paid by others in Kampala (outside slums).  The cost per jerry can is 500 Uganda shillings.  If you do the math, a typical person living in the slums would spend approximately ½ their annual earnings just on buying water.
3. For some lucky ones, where the community or local ‘zone’ has worked with CIDA (with funding from WaterCan) they can buy water at a Water Kiosk at a cost of 100 Uganda shillings per jerry can.  This is the way to go!

I realize the above description might not make a lot of sense.  The bottom line is that those people who live in a zone with a Water Kiosk can get clean water at a good rate and are much better off than those from numbers 1 and 2 above.  In total, we saw three separate Water Kiosks and three separate latrines constructed with the help of CIDA and WaterCan during our tour of the slums. 

Overall, the slums were pretty bad but probably not as bad as I thought they would be.  However, during the wet season I am told everything changes and there is lots of water, mud, sewage, etc. floating around the street, houses, etc.  The pictures below are provided to help me relay what I saw today.

New Water Kiosk funded by WaterCan

Movie Theatre

Drainage Ditch

Typical Street

Typical Street

Baby in tub (or bucket)

New latrine funded by WaterCan

Stagnent Drainage Water

In the evening, we had a special night out at the ‘Ndere Centre’ in Kampala.  The Ndere group is made up of about 20 Ugandan dancers and musicians.  They did an excellent performance.  We also enjoyed a bar-b-q dinner at the Ndere Centre during the show.