Community participation and sustainability in an NGO supported water project : a Study of Torudes Gravity Flow Schemes in Kicheche Sub County Kitagwenda District, Uganda

Abstract

This study examined the contribution of community participation to the sustainability of TORUDES gravity flow schemes in Kicheche Sub County, Kitagwenda district. Specifically, the study aimed to establish how the community participated in the gravity flow scheme; to find out whether community participation would lead to sustainability of TORUDES gravity flow schemes; and to identify the factors that influenced community participation in a project. The study deployed across sectional exploratory research design employing mainly qualitative methods with a household survey to complement qualitative methods. Findings revealed that TORUDES operated three gravity flow schemes that were constructed at different times. These were, the Kigoto-Bwera scheme whose construction ended in 2001, the Kanyanseko and Ruhunga schemes both of which were less than 5 years old and expansions to other Sub Counties other than Kicheche were on going. The forms and depths of community participation in the different schemes and project phases (project identification & design, implementation and post implementation phases) differed within and across the different schemes. The likely sustainability of TORUDES project benefits was found questionable and not likely. Community participation had not resulted into a strong feeling of ownership, the management structures had become inactive and some of water users had abandoned their duty of paying water user fees and the project could not fully finance its O&M from internal sources. The factors that influenced participation varied in source/location and nature. These were location of individuals; the institutional capacity of TORUDES and the political environment. All these were singly or in a combination, found to have favored or worked against participation. The study recommends re-awakening and sustaining community participation through invigorating effective community management structures, boosting the water sources and meaningful engagements with water users on their roles and the importance of sustained contributions. The presence of higher-level support function in form of partnerships and favorable political environment would support community mechanisms to sustain their projects. Finally, catchment protection is highlighted as the only way through which sustained flow of water resources at the sources could be guaranteed.