Browsing by Author "Okurut, Kenan"

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    Access to improved sanitation facilities in low-income informal settlements of East African cities
    (2015-03-05) Okurut, Kenan; Kulabako, R. N.; Adogo, J. M.; Chenoweth, J.; Pedley, S.; Tsinda, A.; Charles, K.
    Throughout Africa, the population in urban areas is increasing rapidly beyond the capacity and the resources of the cities to accommodate the people. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of urban dwellers live in informal settlements served by inadequate sanitation facilities. These areas present unique challenges to the provision of sanitation, and there is inadequate information on access to improved facilities. This paper reports findings of a study undertaken in low-income informal settlements using mixed methods to assess access to sanitation and identify the barriers to household improved sanitation facilities. Although more than half (59.7%) of the respondents reported using sanitation facilities that are included in the JMP definition of improved sanitation, a high proportion of these facilities did not provide “ access to basic sanitation” and less than 5% of all the respondents did not report issues related to sustainable access to basic sanitation. The findings highlight the urgent need to develop a more specific and strategic interventions for each low-income informal settlement, to upscale the sustainable access and use of improved sanitation in urban centres.
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    Assessing demand for improved sustainable sanitation in low-income informal settlements of urban areas: a critical review
    (2014-03-13) Okurut, Kenan; Kulabako, Robinah Nakawunde; Chenoweth, Jonathan; Charles, Katrina
    Sanitation improvement is crucial in saving lives that are lost due to water contamination. Progress towards achieving full sanitation coverage is still slow in low-income informal settlements in most developing countries. Furthermore, resources are being wasted on installing facilities that are later misused or never used because they do not meet the local demand. Understanding demand for improved sanitation in the local context is critical if facilities are to be continually used. Various approaches that attempt to change peoples’ behaviours or create demand have been reviewed to identify what they are designed to address. A multi-disciplinary research team using mixed methods is re-emphasised as a comprehensive approach for assessing demand for improved sanitation in low-income informal settlements, where the sanitation situation is more challenging than in other areas. Further research involving a multi-disciplinary research team and use of mixed methods to assess sanitation demand in informal settlements is needed.
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    Calibrating an optimal condition model for solar water disinfection in peri-urban household water treatment in Kampala, Uganda
    (IWA Publishing, 2013) Okurut, Kenan; Wozei, Eleanor; Kulabako, Robinah; Nabasirye, Lillian; Kinobe, Joel
    In low income settlements where the quality of drinking water is highly contaminated due to poor hygienic practices at community and household levels, there is need for appropriate, simple, affordable and environmentally sustainable household water treatment technology. Solar water disinfection (SODIS) that utilizes both the thermal and ultra-violet effect of solar radiation to disinfect water can be used to treat small quantities of water at household level to improve its bacteriological quality for drinking purposes. This study investigated the efficacy of the SODIS treatment method in Uganda and determined the optimal condition for effective disinfection. Results of raw water samples from the study area showed deterioration in bacteriological quality of water moved from source to the household; from 3 to 36 cfu/100 mL for tap water and 75 to 126 cfu/100 mL for spring water, using thermotolerant coliforms (TTCs) as indicator microorganisms. SODIS experiments showed over 99.9% inactivation of TTCs in 6 h of exposure, with a threshold temperature of 39.5± 0.7 WC at about 12:00 noon, in the sun during a clear sunny day. A mathematical optimal condition model for effective disinfection has been calibrated to predict the decline of the number of viable microorganisms over time.
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    Challenges to Achieving Sustainable Sanitation in Informal Settlements of Kigali, Rwanda
    (2013-12-10) Tsinda, Aime; Abbott, Pamela; Pedley, Steve; Charles, Katrina; Adogo, Jane; Okurut, Kenan; Chenoweth, Jonathan
    Like most cities in developing countries, Kigali is experiencing rapid urbanisation leading to an increase in the urban population and rapid growth in the size and number of informal settlements. More than 60% of the city’s population resides in these settlements, where they experience inadequate and poor quality urban services including sanitation. This article discusses the issues and constraints related to the provision of sustainable sanitation in the informal settlements in Kigali. Two informal settlements (Gatsata and Kimisagara) were selected for the study, which used a mixed method approach for data collection. The research found that residents experienced multiple problems because of poor sanitation and that the main barrier to improved sanitation was cost. Findings from this study can be used by the city authorities in the planning of effective sanitation intervention strategies for communities in informal settlements.
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    Management Structure as a Factor of Performance of Solid Waste Management Projects in African Municipalities: A Case of Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Western Uganda
    (Rwanda Journal of Engineering, Science, Technology and Environment, 2018) Okurut, Kenan; Nuwamanya, Moses; Isoke, Jennifer; Wozei, Eleanor
    Solid waste production is growing exponentially, with stronger trends in developing countries. Uganda is facing rapid urbanization that offers not only new social and economic opportunities, but also more pronounced challenges, including waste management which is not coping with the population growth. Despite the financial support given towards solid waste management (SWM), there appears to be no apparent change. With a population growth of 4.8% per annum, the Bushenyi municipal waste problem is expected to worsen in future if its management is not taken seriously. This study was aimed at understanding how management structure has influenced the performance of a SWM project in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality. A mixed-method approach involving both quantitative and qualitative methods was employed in the study. The quantitative approach focused on counting and classifying features to explain what was observed, while the qualitative method, majorly Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), was used to provide a complete and detailed description of the existing situation in three Divisions of Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality. The study showed that the project management structure does not provide adequate and equitable representation for each of the participating stakeholders at different levels of the project for the day-to-day activities and supervisory roles. It is evident that low resource input is partly contributing to the 27% performance of the Solid Waste Management project. SWM should be implemented with a dedicated management structure with adequate and well-skilled personnel for supervision and monitoring. In addition, the budget for municipal solid waste management should be increased to enable the municipal authority to fund the projects effectively.