Sub-county water supply and sanitation boards: a more effective approach to community-based management

The Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of Rural Water Supply Sources in Uganda is governed by the Community Based Management System (CBMS). That mandates the users to take charge of their water sources, contribute funds for the maintenance of those sources and establish Water User Committees (WUCs) as the governance structures responsible for the overall O&M system. However, the WUCs are plagued with several challenges which render them ineffective. In 2013 IRC/Triple-S in partnership with the District Local Governments of Kabarole and Lira proposed the Sub County Water Supply and Sanitation Boards (SWSSBs), as an approach to address the challenges of CBMS and to enhance the functionality of WUCs. The principle idea is to merge the existing WUC and WSSB models into the SWSSB model, where the SWSSB will become the principal service provider for the whole population of the sub-county. The approach has been piloted in eight sub counties so far. This briefing paper examines the progress, raises the key emerging issues and lessons, and also provides a snapshot of the prospects of the SWSSBs.