A de jure study of social accountability for water and sanitation services in Uganda

Abstract

The provision and sustainability of water and sanitation services in many countries is compromised by poor accountability for investment and maintenance programmes. Previous work has largely been concerned with processes, tools, and initiatives which support wider accountability without considering the ways in which accountability is formalised in law and regulations. We use a structured content analysis of 17 legislative and policy documents from Uganda to identify the evidence for de jure accountability across 21 key water and sanitation functions using the following four accountability themes: rules, process, and standards; responsibilities and duties; performance monitoring; and corrective measures, incentives, and sanctions. Results indicate that there is a strong provision for accountability across two of the four themes but also weaknesses relating to lack of complaint mechanisms, limited stakeholder engagement in regulation formulation, and weak performance monitoring. These findings are contextualised by reference to previous work in the field with particular emphasis on the discontinuities between legal requirements and local initiatives.

World Controversy: Water Sustainability In An Environmental Accounting Perspective

“…Water sustainability involves managing water resources effectively to ensure their provision, use, and preservation for both present and future generations, promoting collective well-being and societal opportunities (Passetti & Rinaldi, 2020). Although water and sanitation have become new development priorities, they still face challenges, particularly in some areas (Nansubuga, Smith, & Jeffrey, 2022). In times of clean water scarcity, tracking water consumption can aid planners in more efficiently managing usage across different sectors to tackle water scarcity (Zhang et al, 2020).…”

“…The involvement of diverse stakeholders plays a pivotal role in advancing toward Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure universal access to water and sanitation by 2030, a target currently falling behind schedule (Dickin et al, 2022). Although the majority of rural clean water supply and wastewater management systems are financed and constructed by donor organizations and governments, the responsibility for maintenance is often transferred to end-users, such as community-based management groups (Nansubuga et al, 2022). It is imperative for policymakers to comprehend the potential repercussions of Advances in Social Humanities Research Vol 2 No.…”