Research Project

Evaluation of Educational Programme for Bio Degradable Wastes Management:
Impact on Household Poverty
(A case of Rubaga Division - Kampala)




Submitted by:





Obua Patrick 2006/HD06/5510U


As a coursework in partial fulfillment of a Masters of Arts in Economic Policy and Planning, Makerere University



2007
Abbreviations/ Acronyms

CBOs - Community Based Organizations
CIDI - Community Integrated Development Initiative
DOSER - District State of Environment Report
NEMA - National Environment Management Authority
NGOs - Non-Governmental Organizations
KCC - Kampala City Council
NSOER - National State of Environmental Report


1.0 Profile of Rubaga Division
Rubaga is one of the five administrative divisions of Kampala District with division headquarters located on Albert cook road- Namirembe. It has 13 parishes, total population of 209,026 people (102,814 males and 106,212 females) and a population density of 1,053.7 people per square kilometer.
1.1Background

Biodegradable waste may be defined as any waste that is capable of undergoing anaerobic and aerobic decomposition, such as food, garden waste, paper and paperboard.

Half of developing country populations still lack basic sanitation. Between 1990 and 2004, sanitation coverage in the developing world increased from 35 to 50 percent. This meant that 1.2 billion people gained access to sanitation during this period. (Source: The MDG Report 2006). In Uganda, like most developing countries, many people still live under poor sanitary condition characterized by poor waste disposal methods.

In Kampala, people prefer unprocessed food and so a lot of biodegradable material is disposed off as waste. This waste is heavy and bulky. According to a survey carried put in Kampala city in 1990, vegetable matter constituted 73.8% of the total wastes generated while non-biodegradable material accounted for 5.6% (Environmental Resource Limited, 1990). The average solid waste generation rate is estimated to be about 0.6 kilograms per Capita per day averaging about 900 tons of wastes per day. (KCC Annual Report, 2000). Managing solid waste is one of the most costly urban services, which is estimated to consume 20-40% of the municipal revenues (Scheu, 1993). It is estimated that Kampala city at present spends US$ 1.53 million per month to remove only 30% of the total waste generated (Ngatagize, et.al 2000). Also in 2003, the cost of solid waste management took 38% of the total city budget (KCC Financial Report 2003/4). The levels of illiteracy are so high that the delivery of solid waste management educations and sensitizations becomes very difficult. There are massive public education campaigns being undertaken by various institutions in Kampala to address the issue of waste management. Primary school children in public schools are being taught how to separate waste into biodegradable and non-biodegradable fractions (with financial assistance from KFW). In addition, a number of women groups, NGOs and CBOs are actively involved in practicing solid waste separation with the ultimate goal of introducing composing and waste recycling on a large scale (DOSER, Kampala; 1997).

2.0 Objectives of the Study.
2.1 Overall objective
Overall the study was to evaluate the educational programmes to improve waste management practices at the household level focusing on the impacts on the household poverty.
2.2 Specific objectives
To find out the current educational waste management programmes.
To find out how such programmes have benefited the poor community.
Give recommendations on how to improve the existing waste management education programmes.

3.0 Methodology
This study adopted the following methods; Literature review, key informant interview, service recipient interview, critical observations and brainstorming.
Literature review
Literature focused on previous studies related to policy issues and biodegradable waste management common practices.
Key informant interview
This was undertaken with selected KCC authorities in charge of waste management in Rubaga Division.
Service recipient interview
A random sample of 40 beneficiaries was interviewed.
Observations
Analytical observations were used to draw conclusions in order to align the findings of the interviews with the actual state of affairs.
Brainstorming
Focus group discussions session was held with some few members of the community where participants brainstormed on waste management issues in the area of study.
4. Findings/ Results

Results of the study show that the broad policy, legal and institutional framework for biodegradable waste management is still lacking.

An educational strategy for waste management for the formal sector was developed and incorporated in the curricula of education institutions. Hence, environmental education and public awareness have, by and large, been enhanced.

The collection and disposal of garbage in Rubaga Division is done by KCC which garbage is disposed in a landfill located in Kitezi. Two common practices used by KCC to manage wastes are the Skip and self-loading methods. Skip method is where a garbage bin is placed in a designated place. Garbage within a given radius is collected in the bin; a KCC truck would then pick and empty the container. Self-loading is where a KCC truck moves through the semi - urban villages and residents drop garbage into the truck, which is then taken to the landfill in Kitezi. Both methods have been known to have very little impact. The coverage is inadequate.

It was noted that most people residing in Rubaga division have little awareness of proper methods of waste management. Most people mix degradable with non-biodegradable matter. In addition, wastes are sometimes deposited on non-designated areas. In some cases wastes are deposited on waterways and swamps. The effects of these practices are that many poor households are rendered vulnerable to suffer sicknesses from preventable diseases like cholera, typhoid and dysentery.

KCC Rubaga Division runs a public awareness campaign, through the local councils and workshops to sensitize the people. In the workshops, the communities are made to know their responsibilities in waste management. Workshops are usually held about six times a year. Attendance is always poor due to low motivation and lack of incentives.

A better waste management initiative has also been introduced. Rubaga division in consultation with an expert[1] on incinerators developed a proposal of using incinerators to burn waste. The proposal is waiting funding from CIDI.
5. Conclusions
There are national attempts to integrate waste management education into school curriculums. However, policies specific to solid waste management particularly biodegradable waste management still remain lacking.

Community educational programmes relating to waste management are very limited in terms of content, coverage, and frequency.

Private sector involvement in waste management has been efficient but lacks funding.

Proper management of biodegradable wastes would help the poor community avoid catching preventable diseases consequently saving household income, which would have been spent on treatment.

6. Recommendations

There is need to improve on the delivery of the training that has been there and which training should be made frequent, useful and relevant to the beneficiaries. The trainings should focus on the roles and responsibilities of the poor community in waste management, the dangers of poor waste management and entrepreneurship to enhance their capacity to explore business opportunities in the biodegradable wastes. For example using the wastes as manures, selling as animal feeds and processing into biogas.

Involve private sector practitioners in the waste management educational training programme to help enhance efficiency.

KCC should increase funding to boost educational trainings for waste management in Rubaga Division.

Incinerators should be put in place to take care of the non-biodegradable wastes in the division.

7. References
1. Ministry of Local Government: Urban Planning and management in Local Government; Trainers Manual; November 2003

2. Ministry of Local Government: Environment Management in Local Governments; Participants Hand Book, Lower Local Governments, December 2003.

3. Dr. Gombya Ssembajjwe William. Makerere University, Faculty of forestry and Nature Conservation: Solid Waste Management in Kawempe Division; Issues, challenges and emerging options.

4. National Environment Management Authority: District state of the Environment Report, Kampala District 1997

5. A guide to world resources 2000-2001, People and eco Systems; UNDP.

6. Byaruhanga, E. M. A paper on Human settlements and Land use policy. Presented at a workshop on the formulation of Land Use policy for Uganda. June 8th 2000. Fairway Hotel Kampala.

7. Waste Collection in Kampala City Jan-June 2000. Kampala Uganda. Kampala City Council.2000.

8. State of Environments Reports for Uganda 2004/5. Kampala. National Environment Management Authority:

9. State of Environments Reports for Uganda 2003/4. Kampala. National Environment Management Authority: