Empowering Change - Sarah Namutebi Transforming Community WASH in Makindye Ssabagabo
In the pre-dawn quiet, Sarah Namutebi, the Principal Health Inspector for Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality, answered a call from a man deep within one of the communities she oversees. Early morning calls have become routine—part of the job, she thought—and they almost always revolved around the same issue: a “nuisance.”
One of our roles is to abet nuisances and, in most cases, they are related to water, sanitation, and hygiene elements. Someone calls you and tells you that someone is throwing garbage, others call and say people are throwing wastewater in their compound. And I have to follow up on all these.
- Sarah
But this time, something was different. The caller’s voice carried an edge of urgency and anxiety. Sarah knew right away—today was not going to be like any other.
A River of Sewerage
The caller got straight to the point: a local school was dumping gallons of raw sewage (blackwater) into the community. The stench was unbearable, and frustration had reached a boiling point—the residents were demanding action.
Without hesitation, Sarah cleared her schedule and headed straight to the community.
They were not happy at all. They wanted to take the proprietor to court. I said, no! We have steps we follow. I immediately followed the steps of abetting a nuisance.
- Sarah
Upon closer inspection, Sarah discovered that the issue wasn’t as severe as initially reported. It was greywater, not the more hazardous blackwater. In sanitation terms, blackwater contains fecal matter and urine, often carrying dangerous pathogens that spread through the fecal-oral route. Greywater, on the other hand, comes from household sources like sinks, baths, and washing machines, and does not include waste from toilets.
Without delay, Sarah approached the school’s proprietor, outlining the issue and offering clear options for resolving it. What followed was unexpected.
An Amazing Innovation
The school’s proprietor expressed genuine remorse for the situation.
“We didn’t know this was an offense, and we had no idea we’d upset the community,” he admitted.
In less than eight days, the school implemented what Sarah described as “an amazing innovation.” To address the low water table—one of the causes of the overflow—the proprietor installed a large tank and cesspool, effectively curbing the runoff. The water was now stored in the tank, treated, and reused by the school for cleaning.
For Sarah, this was a significant victory.
To many, it might seem like a simple solution. But for someone to take the initiative and develop this — it’s a remarkable feat of ingenuity. It wasn’t just cost-effective; it was also environmentally responsible.
- Sarah
Addressing the Nuisance on a Systematic Level
While Sarah’s quick response and the school’s innovative solution marked a significant win, it was just one part of a much bigger picture. Tackling nuisances like wastewater disposal is only a fraction of her work as a Principal Health Inspector. The true challenge lies in addressing these issues systematically—a task that WaterAid helped her take on with greater efficiency.
WaterAid’s partnership with Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality provided Sarah with the tools, skills and knowledge to elevate her role from merely responding to complaints to systematically tackling WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) challenges. This transformation was achieved through a series of key interventions that helped Sarah reframe how public health and sanitation should be addressed in her community.
Empowering Through Community Engagement
One of the most impactful tools WaterAid introduced was the community barazas—community forums that brought leaders like Sarah face-to-face with the people they serve. “The barazas have been helpful to us as leaders and the community,” Sarah explains. “They empowered the community to know they are in control of what they need. When they identify the need, it becomes easier to prioritize and finance.” Through these forums, Sarah realized that many of the assumption’s leaders had about community needs were misguided.
These barazas also created a space for accountability and transparency, where the community and leaders could bridge the gap between governmental planning and grassroots realities. “As leaders, we appreciated that what we thought were the community’s problems were not always the case. These engagements were crucial in helping us align our plans with their real needs,” Sarah says. This shift in perspective has been essential in her ability to address the WASH issues in the community and get them more involved in the solving their community problems
Building Capacity and Enhancing Governance
WaterAid also played a critical role in equipping Sarah and other leaders with the skills and resources to better address WASH issues using a system thinking approach.
Through capacity-building sessions and joint monitoring, we’ve completely transformed our approach. Leaders now recognize WASH as a key priority. When we inspect institutions, WASH-related issues are at the forefront, which wasn’t the case before.
- Sarah
This change in mindset has led to more intentional and consistent follow-up on issues like sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools and health centers. This has supported in informing improvements in the operation and maintenance of WASH facilities in the facilities.
Additionally, WaterAid’s introduction of digital data management systems was a game-changer. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, WaterAid trained Village Health Teams (VHTs) and health inspectors on using electronic data systems, replacing the outdated paper-based methods. This innovation has allowed Sarah to monitor WASH in the communities and also address public health challenges timely with improved information.
Before, we hadn’t thought about involving VHTs in data collection using electronic devices. Now, we’re excited to replace paper with digital tools, reducing our environmental impact and making real-time decision-making possible.
- Sarah
Long-term Solutions for WASH
Beyond responding to immediate crises like the greywater issue at the school, with the knowledge and skills gained from WaterAid and support for routine monitoring of WASH, this has helped Sarah advocate for sustainable, long-term solutions. One of the most significant outcomes has been the establishment of stand-alone WASH budgets for facilities in some of the institutions. Sarah reflects, “After engagement meetings, we’ve advocated for operations and maintenance (O&M) at different facilities, ensuring there’s a dedicated budget to meet WASH needs.” This financial commitment means that the improvements made, like the waste treatment system at the school, are not only temporary fixes but part of an ongoing effort to maintain WASH standards.
The support Sarah received from WaterAid has fundamentally changed how she approaches her role as a Principal Health Inspector. The emphasis on community involvement, capacity building, and data-driven decision-making has allowed her to address the different challenges not just reactively but proactively, ensuring that the systems in place can prevent future issues and are able to address the present concern.
A Shared Responsibility
For Sarah, WaterAid’s support has not only enhanced her professional capabilities but also fostered a culture of shared responsibility within the community and the leadership including the politicians. “Through these discussions, we’ve created a platform where trust can thrive between the community and leaders,” she says. This trust is crucial for the long-term success of WASH initiatives, as it empowers the community to take ownership of their own health and sanitation needs.
By working closely with WaterAid, Sarah has transformed her community’s approach to sanitation and hygiene improvement, ensuring that solutions are not just reactive but systemic, sustainable, and community-driven. “It’s not just about solving today’s problems but preventing tomorrow’s,” she reflects.
The Waterloo Foundation
The Waterloo Foundation funds the Strengthening Sustainable WASH Systems initiative (2023-2026) by IRC, WaterAid, and Water For People. It aims to improve WASH access in Uganda by strengthening infrastructure and governance. The project trains leaders, advocates for policy reforms, and enhances service delivery, aiming to impact over 296,000 people.
