Katosi Women Development Trust Factsheet
- Founded in 1996
- WfWP member since 2009
- Mission: To empower rural women to effectively manage their social, economic and political development processes for improved productive livelihoods in healthy communities
- Focus area: Mukono district, Uganda
- Level: Local
- Main themes: political, economic and social empowerment, water & sanitation and Social Aid
Milestones
For 17 years now, KWDT has positioned women to become the engines of development in their communities. KWDT has won a number of awards with their Water, Hygiene and Sanitation program. An organization that started in 1996 as a fishing group to support women enter the lucrative male dominated fishing industry, has now grown into a network of 19 women groups with a total of 511 women members achieving development in the most sustainable manner.
KWDT has transformed the lives of women and their households through its 3 thematic areas of: Micro credit; Sustainable Agriculture, and; Hygiene, Water and Sanitation. Within the 3 programs, women and their household members have been empowered to access credit and engage in various income generating activities, improve the food security of their households, as well as improving their access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation facilities.
Rain water harvesting
In 2013, 23 households have acquired rainwater harvesting tanks. The revolving scheme helps to increase the number of tank beneficiaries by 10 - 20 people every year. This is supplemented by external donations for water tanks. This has helped a total number of 276 households presently to access clean safe water. 5 schools have received rainwater harvesting tanks, 3 interlocking stabilised soil blocks (ISSB) tanks of 12,000ltrs and 2 ferrous cement tanks of 20,000ltrs bringing the total of school tank beneficiaries to now 28. These have reached out to a total of 1270 girls and 1213 boys having access to safe water through rainwater harvesting.
Bio sand filters
The promotion of bio sand filters has steadily increased the number of households and schools that have access to safe drinking water. To date, KWDT women members have constructed and distributed a total of 27 bio-sand filters, some to schools and others to the community. Being a relatively new technology, the bio-sand filter promotion has to be done repeatedly for it to produce tangible results. KWDT women have been invited in other parts of the country to construct and train other women in the use of bio-sand filters. Refresher trainings too have been conducted for KWDT women masons, helping to perfect their skills and also repair and maintain the old tanks in the different groups.
Women empowerment for WASH access in rural Uganda
Sanitation related diseases were rampant in the rain season in several fisher communities because of open defecation. KWDT increased access to safe water and sanitation facilities through the construction of RWH tanks and toilets. The project supports women’s households and schools in accessing safe water and sanitation. Seven rain water harvesting tanks and six toilets have been installed and made accessible to the households and schools. Capacity building of 48 women leaders in leadership skills was part of the project, 24 women masons were trained in tank construction and maintenance and 55 women as Water User Committee members.
“We now have a better sanitation facility, which does not only serve the school but also the community. The building serves the community hall as well, participants of community meetings also use the toilets. We are happy!” (Mr. Mabirizi Ssegujja. head teacher of Kamda secondary school )
Self-supply wash for households and schools
KWDT aimed to increase access to safe water, adequate sanitation and improved hygiene for marginalised fisher communities through enhancing women’s roles in WaSH. The project supported women’s households and schools in accessing safe water and sanitation. In total 32 rain water harvesting tanks and 32 domestic bio sand water filters were constructed. Sixteen domestic sanitation facilities for 32 households have been built. 64 KWDT women leaders, 403 group members and 29 women masons have been trained in water management.
Read here the Evaluation of the Katosi WaSH Supply Program, Uganda
For more information visit the KWDT website: www.katosi.org
