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Evaluation of Water Safety Plan outcomes and impacts in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Uganda

Author

Listed:
  • Kanyesigye, Christopher
  • Ferrero, Giuliana
  • Marks, Sara J.
  • Niwagaba, Charles B.
  • Kulabako, Robinah N.
  • Kansiime, Frank

Abstract

The World Health Organization recommends Water Safety Plans (WSP) as the most effective means of ensuring safe drinking-water supply. WSP performance evaluation is necessary for improving water service delivery, scaling up, and motivating the roll out of WSP. In this study, the evaluation of WSP development and implementation was done in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, a mid-sized semi-rural town in southwestern Uganda. Training of operations staff and the WSP team was done. Performance indicator data were collected before, during, and after 18 months of WSP implementation to determine the changes attributable to this intervention. Structured semi-quantitative questionnaires were used for data collection, which consisted of 11 progressive outcome indicators categorized under operational and institutional changes, and 14 short-term impact indicators categorized under water supply change. Results showed that WSP implementation enabled improvement in infrastructure, operational monitoring, customer engagement meetings, and training. Implementation of WSP did not result in improved catchment management, development and review of standard operating procedures and holding of internal meetings. Regarding short-term impacts, there was a significant improvement in compliance levels with drinking water quality standards, continuity of water supply, and customer satisfaction, as assessed by the frequency of complaints. There was, however, a significant reduction in the revenue-cost ratio (p = 0.001), likely due to an inadequate budget for implementing service expansion.

Suggested Citation

  • Kanyesigye, Christopher & Ferrero, Giuliana & Marks, Sara J. & Niwagaba, Charles B. & Kulabako, Robinah N. & Kansiime, Frank, 2026. "Evaluation of Water Safety Plan outcomes and impacts in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Uganda," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:98:y:2026:i:c:s0957178725002218
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.102106
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jo Herschan & Bettina Rickert & Theresa Mkandawire & Kenan Okurut & Richard King & Susan J. Hughes & Dan J. Lapworth & Katherine Pond, 2020. "Success Factors for Water Safety Plan Implementation in Small Drinking Water Supplies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-18, October.
    2. Emily Kumpel & Caroline Delaire & Rachel Peletz & Joyce Kisiangani & Angella Rinehold & Jennifer De France & David Sutherland & Ranjiv Khush, 2018. "Measuring the Impacts of Water Safety Plans in the Asia-Pacific Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Christopher Kanyesigye & Sara J. Marks & Juliet Nakanjako & Frank Kansiime & Giuliana Ferrero, 2019. "Status of Water Safety Plan Development and Implementation in Uganda," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Resoketswe Charlotte Moropeng & Phumudzo Budeli & Maggy Ndombo Benteke Momba, 2021. "An Integrated Approach to Hygiene, Sanitation, and Storage Practices for Improving Microbial Quality of Drinking Water Treated at Point of Use: A Case Study in Makwane Village, South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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