SLUM WASTE MANAGEMENT PROJECT: A case of Bwaise-

Kawempe slum Kampala city council.

INTRODUCTION.
BACKGROUND
Bwaise is one of the biggest slums in the outskirts of Kampala
City. Bwaise is bordered by
Kawempe to the north, Kyebando to the east, Mulago to the
southeast, Makerere to the south and Kasubi to the southwest.
Kawempe division is the most densely populated with nine
zones from three parishes of Bwaise II (Bukarazi, Nakamiro and
Tebuyoleka zones), Kyebando (Elisa,
Kisalosalo and Kyebando central zones) and Mulago III (Lower
Nsooba, Kifumbira I and Upper Nsooba zones). Majority of its
resident are low income corners residing in the informal
settlements of Bwaise, Kazo – Angola and many others, these
informal settlements were established as a result of destroying
the wetlands and this has occasionally led to seasonal flooding
in most low land areas of the divisions.
Waste management in Bwaise-Kawempe slum is hampered by
multiple land tenure system with many tenants not having a
right to the land and therefore not able to manage waste
domestically. Solid Waste (SW) collection is currently one of the
most critical services, whose quality and coverage has caused
serious public outcry in slum areas.
Kampala Capital City Authority(KCCA) acknowledges that out of
1,200–1,500 tons of garbage generated per day, only 400-500
tones are collected giving a collection efficiency of only 40%.
This implies that 60% of Solid waste generated daily is not
properly collected and disposed which has resulted into
indiscriminate disposal by the public. It was noted that Bwaise II
generates an estimated 31.423 tons of garbage daily with a
composition Biodegradable (76%), Plastics2 (4%), Metal3 (3%),
Polythene4 (8%) and others5 (9%). The average per capita solid
waste generation rate is 1.284- kg/per person/per day with a
high organic content and bulky density. However there were
varying per capita generation rates depending on income levels
with high-income households (Tebyoreka, Mugowa and
Nabukalu zones) generate more wastes than low income
households (Jambula, Lufula, Katale zones) but accumulation is
higher in low income areas compared to high income
settlements due to unavailability of waste collection services.
Water Aid Uganda (WAU) and other Kampala authorities have
undertaken a number projects and research on solid waste
management in Kawempe division to improve her
understanding of the current state of urban solid waste
management practices of residents of low income areas of
Kawempe Division/Kampala. This indicates that our project will
not be the first to address waste management issues in Bwaise-
Kawempe slum.However, much as interventions have been
made to address this problem, Kampala slums still lack refuse
handling equipment, lack of community willingness and
affordability to participate in the cleaning, weak law
enforcement for keeping the environment clean, lack of
development environmental controls and the limited garbage
collection to less than 50% of that generated in the whole city.
Slum Dwellers consider waste collection to be Kampala City
Council’s responsibility not theirs, despite the suffering they
have to encounter. Slum dwellers are, however, not
environmentally conscious to the level expected of them with
open dumping of garbage becoming the order of the day to
most of them. Slum waste management project is aimed at
empowering community members especially women in slum
areas to collectively participate in proper waste management.
This is geared to bringing about positive change towards
managing the solid waste they generate and also effectively
participate in the management of solid waste in the slum. This
will involve the local authorities (Kampala City council), local
political leaders and the community members.
PROBLEM STATEMENT.
Uganda’s rate of urbanization is growing fast. It is estimated
that Kampala City Council (KCC) spends United States Dollars
1.53 million per month to remove only 30% of the total waste
generated (Ngategize 2000). As amounts of solid waste
increase, the cost of its removal increases too. Yet Kampala City
Council does not have sufficient resources to completely and
efficiently carry out this responsibility. The result has been
delays in disposing off this garbage. Also the communities are
ignorant of the best way to manage the waste, as there is a
little community
initiative to undertake collective action.
Most of the slum dwellers in Bwaise-Kawempe are considered
to be poor therefore they are vulnerable to health hazards and
environmental negative effects resulting from the delayed
removal of solid wastes. The uncollected waste, which is often
also mixed with human and animal excreta is dumped
indiscriminately in the streets and in drains, contributing to
flooding, breeding of insect and rodent vectors and the spread
of diseases such as cholera. Given this situation there is need to
promote complimentary alternatives such as empowering
women to start-up of micro-enterprises in recycling, for
example recycling of paper, Pet bottles, and etcetera to earn a
better living. This aspect to earn an income would motivate
them to support theprogramme. Their attitudes and behaviors
are still inclined towards waste management by the authorities.
It therefore, becomes evident that the communities get
sensitized through a rigorously planned project to bring about
positive change towards managing the solid waste they
generate.
JUSTIFICATION/ RATIONALE.
Slum waste management project is a community
empowerment project targeting the most vulnerable in the
slums of Bwaise-Kawempe. This project is focused at equipping
community members especially women with skills to start up
income generating activities from waste management process
of recycling. For example recycling of paper, pet bottles among
others. This economic empowerment enables an individual to
contribute to the household income, his/her self-esteem is
regained and the decision- making powers are altered.
Economic empowerment is hence a prerequisite for actual
equality. Good working conditions, continuous training, and the
adoption of scientific and professional ways of handling waste
will minimise health risks and other occupational hazards that
are common in urban slums.
It is hoped that Slum waste management project will also help
raise awareness on issues pertaining to garbage management
for the community and policy makers especially at local level. It
will highlight the role of the different stakeholders and the
extent to which they have been active in addressing the waste
management problem. Partners in development will be able to
use this information by identifying specific income generating
activities, thus making waste contribute to the poverty
eradication programme in the country. The element of income
and energy generating activities can comprehensively and
effectively be integrated into the system of solid waste
management through awareness and sensitization of the public
that simplifies the process of waste conversion through
salvaging, segregation and recycling. Therefore, empowering
the community to participate in the management of solid waste
will contribute substantively to the establishment of a durable
and sustainable municipal solid waste management system for
Kampala and Bwaise-Kawempe slum at large. In addition,
environmental and waste management education to the
communities will help communities appreciate sound practices
such as sorting and recycling. This will help encourage
communities to abandon illegal practices such as burning, and
open space dumping.The key to improving health care waste
management is to provide better methods of storage and to
train the staff to adopt safer working practices and segregate as
hazardous healthcare wastes from the general health care
wastes. Some waste materials need special treatment because
their properties make them more hazardous chemicals not only
a matter of technology and legislation, but also of enforcement,
funding and financial instruments. Changing processes to use
less hazardous substitutes and minimizing hazardous waste
quantities that are discarded can be seen as preferred options
in dealing with any difficult waste.
GOAL
Reduction of unemployment rates in Bwaise-Kawempe slum.
PROJECT PURPOSE
Improved access to better sanitation for people in Bwaise-
Kawempe through empowerment of
women.
RISK ANALYSIS.
Given the fact that this project is to be implemented in 3 years,
there is reality of handover this project to the local authorities
of Kampala capital city after the successful completion of the
project. Kampala City Council is the overall in charge of waste
management in Kampala. Therefore this external factor may
influence the project to a certain degree. One such risk is linked
to the hand-over of the project to the local authorities
(Kampala city council). There is a risk of K.C.C not prioritizing
the project after it has been handed over to them (after 3yrs).
We hope to eliminate this risk by creating a solid support for
the project among various community actors, for example the
public, private corporations, volunteers, employees, and
etcetera, and thereby increasing the expectations on the
Kampala City Council administration.
In addition, during the six-month hand-over phase, K.C.C will be
sensitized to Solid waste management and thoroughly
introduced to the project. Extensive technical support and
training will be given to municipalities by SFAll-Uganda.
Finally, Solid Waste Management projects in Uganda run the
risk of bypassing and disregarding those people who are
already engaged in waste management in the informal sector
(that is to say,the so-called rag pickers). We are fully aware of
this risk and will do our uttermost to firstly identify these
individuals and thereafter motivate them to join the SWM
project as fulltime employees.
OUTPUTS.
The major outputs of slum waste management project will
include but not limited to the
following;
 10 Improved drainage systems.
Slum waste management project also intends to improve 10
drainage systems and rehabilitate the existing drainage systems
in zones of Bwaise II,
  tons of wastes collected daily.
This project intends to collect 2 ton of waste daily from the
slum zones of Bwaise- Kawempe. This will be achieved through
establishing of common dumping sites in each zone, organized
collection of rubbish/wastes, proper segregation of waste,
Composting of biodegradable waste, treating of wastes,
recycling of non-biodegradable waste and intensive awareness
and information campaigns in each zone of the slum.
 50-100 households sensitized on proper waste
management.
In order to make long-term, sustainable changes, people at the
grassroots level must feel ownership of and commitment to all
of the project intervention. 50-100 households are targeted to
be sensitized on proper disposal and management of wastes.
 45 well trained community workers.
This project intends to train 5 community workers in each of
the nine zones of Bwaise- Kawempe slum.
 20 full time employment opportunities.
SFAll-Uganda will achieve this by conducting regular trainings of
slum women in income generating activities that will in the long
run with sustainable employment/Jobs to cater for their needs
and those of their families.
PLANNED ACTIVITIES.
 Clearing and rehabilitation of existing drainage
systems.SFAll-Uganda intends to clear 10 drainage systems
by collecting out all the dumped wastes in the water
channels and trenches that surround the slum
homesteads. Existing drainage systems that have been
blocked or need to be repaired will also be rehabilitated in
the course of the project implementation process.
 Waste Collection.
Door-to-door collection of waste will take place on a daily basis
by use of plastic bags that will be provided to each household
free of charge. After the waste has been collected from the
households and the common areas have been swept, the waste
will be transported to the site with auto rickshaws. Each will
have a part time driver and one to four waste collectors, and
serve 300 – 400 households. Households will pay on average
shillings 2,000 per month to have their waste collected. The
monthly collection will cover the salary of the van drivers and
waste collectors as well as operation and maintenances costs
these workers shall have protective wear such as Gumboots;
Gloves; and eye glasses and mouth and nose Masks.
 Creation of dumping sites. This activity will be carried out
in zones of Bukarazi, Nakamiro and Tebuyoleka zone, Elisa,
Kisalosalo, Kyebando central, Lower Nsooba, Kifumbira I
 and Upper Nsooba. In every zone, 2 dumping sites will be
established where all the households will be expected to
dump their garbage and waste on a daily basis. SFAll-
Uganda will therefore create 18 dumping sites within the
slum area. Every week the gathered wastes will be
collected and dumped at one major site that is operated
by
 Bio waste management Uganda Limited.
Segregation of Wastes. The households will segregate the
waste at source into biodegradable (wet) waste and non-
biodegradable (dry) waste. The non-biodegradable (dry)
waste will thereafter be segregated into recyclables, non-
recyclables, and domestic hazardous waste. Each
household will be provided two plastic bags in different
colours free of charge for the wet and the dry waste
respectively. This will be done before dumping.
 Composting of Biodegradable Waste. At the dumping site,
all biodegradable waste will be composted either in
aerobic composts or in the more costly vermi-composts.
Aerobic composting refers to a process where
biodegradable waste is biologically decomposedunder
controlled conditions by microorganisms (mainly bacteria
and fungi) under aerobic conditions. The product,
compost, can effectively be utilised as an organic fertiliser
to rejuvenate soils.
  Treating of wastes. All collected wastes will be treated
from the major dumping site by well trained workers.
 Recycling of Non-Biodegradable. Sensitization of
community members on proper waste management. An
important step to motivate and engage the public is via
continuous community sensitization on proper waste
management based on a public IEC strategy. Some of the
themes to be discussed during public awareness and
motivation campaigns will include; Littering and
indiscriminate dumping of refuse on open spaces,
footpaths, lanes, streets, and into drainage channels or
water bodies, environmental degradation and its effects
on human health among others.
 Identification of well-trained community workers.
In an attempt to intervene in this matter of waste
management in the slum, the project intends to use a
participatory approach for selection of community workers.
From the targeted slum area the project will chose 5
community workers from each of the nine zones in the slum
giving a total of 45 community workers. The project in its own
criteria will first of all give priority to the unemployed youth as
the core basis for selection. The project team will work hand in
hand with the local council I (LC1s) and the community workers
for this particular task to guarantee an effective and efficient
waste management process.
  Training of women in income generating activities.
In a bid to empower slum women, SFAll-Uganda will train them
in income generating activities for instance making paper from
recycled wastes among others. These trainings will be
conducted in the first quarter of the project that is to say in the
first 9 months. Women will be equipped with skills that will
enable them start up small income generating activities. Other
activities that will be carried out;
 Monitoring and evaluation.A management information
system (MIS) package will be established to coordinate the
project information and data generated from the activities
conduct and the changes made with the aid of a monthly
data collection forms. This data will be collected by the
project manager. This data will be collected with utmost
care to ensure authenticity and accuracy. The information
there then will be analyzed, evaluated and reports made.
A narrative and analytical report on the project quarterly
progress will be prepared by the project manager. It will
help to show the challenges and experiences realized
during implementation. This report will occasionally be
submitted to the funding donor.
PROJECT INPUTS
 Skilled labour/Experts
 Time
  Mass media(radio programmes, public announcements
 Equipment and machinery(spades, protective wear,
folks, pickups among others) 
 Stationery material (markers, flip charts, pens,
notebooks, markers…)
PROJECT STRATEGY
The proposed strategy is not a monolithic collection & disposal
system. Instead, it proposes to employ a multi-pronged
approach that revolves round the ‘4R’ participatory principle of
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Reject. The strategy employs six main
elements. They are:
1. Engaging an affordable mix of appropriate technical options
to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Reject.
2. Involving all major stakeholders in the implementation.
3. Promoting Private-Municipal Partnerships Strengthening
institutional solid waste management capacity of Bwaise-
Kawempe slum.
4. Influencing national and provincial level policies & program
support Enforcing laws and policy.