Decentralisation And Service Delivery In The Water Sector In Bukwo Sub-County Bukwo District Uganda

ABSTRACT

The research study title, “Decentralization and service delivery in water sector”, was conducted

to examine the relationship between decentralization policy and service delivery in the water

sector in Bukwo Sub-county, Bukwo District under the objectives being; to establish how

decentralization policy has impacted on the service delivery in the water sector, the challenges

facing water sector in a decentralized setting and possible solutions to decentralization policy in

trying to effectively implement its activities in the service delivery of water sector in Bukwo

Sub-county, Bukwo District. This study was intended to capture information from respondents

of sample Size forty through the use of purposive sampling where the researcher only targeted

those who hard data about decentralization policy, however, thirty six of them turned up for

interview while four district water officials were unable to participate. Besides, information was

also obtained through the use of questionnaires that were given to the local leaders, civil servants

at the local government and the local community. From the research findings it was found out

that the major impact of decentralization on the water sector was the promotion of people’s

participation in the affairs wat~r services within their localities which has promoted easy

mobilization of resources from people and sustainability of water projects and with worse areas

as improving standards of living and promotion of local skills among local people. Furthermore

the research study findings concluded that, the major challenges facing decentralized provision

of water services were found to be corruption within the sector, limited funding and inadequate

qualified personnel at local levels. Other challenges were limited community participation in

terms resource mobilization and maintenance of water projects and poverty which limits the

ability of people to afford piped water. Finally according to study findings, the researcher recommend the need for active involvement of the local community through active participation

in community works such as cleaning of water sources and also fight against corruption at all levels of water service management through setting strict bye-laws to those found corrupting the

funds and resources meant to facilitate the programs of water sector, increase in funding through

increasing the budgetary of water sector and increased lobbying for the sector , monitoring and participation of the local community in decision making as a way to effective realize the positive progress in the water sector.