Drawers of water II : thirty years of change in domestic water use and environmental health in East Africa : Uganda country study

Building on the original Drawers of Water methodology * a research study was carried out charting the major trends and changes that have occurred in the domestic water and environmental health sectors over the past three decades. This paper presents the findings of the Uganda Country Study and provides detailed information about the causes and consequences of long-term changes in domestic water use and environmental health in the country. Research results include changes in per capita water use, cost of water for piped and unpiped households, the range and type of water sources used by unpiped households, the impact of deteriorating piped water services, the effect of water use, sanitation and hygiene behaviour on diarrhoea, and the policy and institutional implications. The emerging results from this project reveal a complex picture of improvement and decline for both piped and unpiped rural and urban households and communities. They also raise important questions about current practice and future prospects for improving water supply and sanitation services in Africa.

* White, G.F., White, A.U. and Bradley, D.J. (1972). Drawers of water : domestic water use in East Africa. Chicago, IL, USA, University of Chicago Press.