Effects of Water Accessibility to The Community Of Hakibale Sub County, Kabarole District, Western Uganda

ABSTRACT

The lack of access to sufficient water and sanitation facilities is one of the largest hindrances towards the sustainable development of the poorest 2.2 billion people in the world. The research was conducted in Hakibale Sub County in Kabarole district. The availability and accessibility of water in a community helps reduce wastage of time which would have been used for productive work especially income generation, it also

facilitates production in terms of water for agriculture and the general improvement of health of the population since water is life. The objective of the research was to find out

the sources of water, effects of water availability and what can be done to ensure water availability. The research indicated that two-thirds of constructed water points were not functioning, and there was a low coverage of sanitation services. The study sampled 40 respondents where the results showed the water sources as Protected Springs, Shallow wells, bore holes, Streams, Tanks, and Shallow wells, the effects as Diseases burden,

Pollution, Loss of valuable time, Poor school performance, Gender disparity in labor and the ways of ensuring water availability included Community involvement, Awareness and Workshops on how communities and local leaders can improve on water

accessibility. Generally, water accessibility in Hakibaale sub county needs to be improved if the life of women and children is to be made productive both in agriculture and other socio - economic activities. Water sources need to be managed by cleaning the drainage channels

to avoid water runoff from entering the wells which reduces on the water quality by so doing there will be provision of good and constant supply of water to the community.

The local leaders, water committees, NGO should make people aware and sensitize them not to destroy water catchments areas such as forests and wetlands to enable functionality of hydrological cycle. The community should seal and level the water sources so that it can be constantly cleaned and well repaired so as to avoid the interference with the water flow and quality. There is need for the district administration to sensitize communities on

issues pertaining the available water sources, how to reduce water related diseases protection of water sources and the laws on water supply such that communities are informed of what they are entitled to and their roles and responsibilities

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration

Dedication iii

Approval ii

List of tables viv

Acronyms viii

Aknowledgement vix

Abstract vix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the study

1.2 Statement of the problem 2

1.3 Main Objectives 3

1.4. Research questions 3

1.5 Justification of the study 4

1.6 Scope of the study 4

CHAPTER TWO 5

LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.0 Introduction 5

2.1 Sources of water being used by the community 5

2.2 water accessibility and related effects 6

2.3what can be done to reduce the effects 9

CHAPTER THREE 12

3,0 Study area and methodology 12

3.1 Study area 12

3.1.1 Location and size of the study area 12

3.1.2 Population and ethnicity 12

3.1.3 Economic activities 12

3.1.4 Administrative units 13

3.2.0. Methodology 13

3.2.1. Sample selection and sample size 13

3.2.2. Data collection methods 14

3.2.3 Questionnaire 14

3.2.4 Interviews 14

3 .SData processing and analysis 14

CHAPTER FOUR 15

Presentation and discussion of findings is

4.0.Introduction 15

4.1.Demographic data 15

4.2The existing water sources 16

iv

4.3 The problems associated with water accessibility 20

4.4What has been done to ensure provision of good water supply in Hakibaale Sub

County9 21

CHAPTER FIVE 23

5 .Oconclusions and recommendation 23

5.1 Conclusion 23

5 .2Recommendation 24

REFERENCES 35

APPENDIX 30

appendix 1 :Observation checklist 29

appendix 2:Research questionnaire 39