An evaluation of sanitation entrepreneurship and workers` welfare in Kampala City

Abstract

Sanitation workers provide an essential service critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); however, their work often compromises their dignity, welfare, and health. This study, conducted in Kampala, Uganda, evaluates the structure and welfare outcomes of sanitation enterprises and their workers. Specifically, it examines: (i) the economic and institutional arrangements of sanitation enterprises in Kampala, (ii) the welfare of sanitation workers employed by these enterprises, and (iii) the visibility strategies for the sanitation workforce in Kampala. Using cross-sectional and exploratory approaches, the study applied both qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, to gather data from sanitation workers and enterprises within the faecal waste sector. The study targeted a diverse population within the faecal waste sector in Kampala, comprising sanitation workers from organizations like the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and private sanitation enterprises engaged in faecal waste management, such as the Water and Sanitation Entrepreneurs Association Uganda (WASEU) and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC). It also included policy and advocacy stakeholders, such as Technology for Tomorrow, various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and sanitation worker associations or collectives. Using a snowball sampling technique, the study surveyed 307 respondents, including 31 sanitation enterprises and 276 sanitation workers. The findings revealed that mechanical enterprises represent a majority (52%) within the faecal waste transportation and conveyance stage, whereas semi-mechanical operators account for only 32%. Workers in mechanical enterprises earned a higher monthly average wage of UGX 610,000 compared to UGX 307,143 for workers in semi-mechanical enterprises. An ANOVA analysis found no significant difference between the operating costs of mechanical and semi-mechanical enterprises (F-statistic = 3.787725, F-critical = 4.210008, p-value = 0.062106), supporting the null hypothesis that operating costs between the two groups are statistically similar. The study also highlighted significant health and safety risks faced by sanitation workers. The leading health risk was headaches (28%), while the primary social risk was cultural exclusion (30%). Limited work during rainy seasons posed the biggest environmental risk (52%), high living costs emerged as the main economic risk (31%), and solid waste content in faecal matter was cited as the top infrastructural risk (33%). Further findings showed that 68% of workers in mechanical enterprises did not receive support, whereas 75% of those in semi-mechanical enterprises received training and protective equipment. In conclusion, the study underscores the need for collaborative, contextspecific action plans to improve conditions for the sanitation workforce. Private and public sector institutions should work together, guided by detailed city assessments and in consultation with worker groups, to develop targeted support programs. Recommended actions include increased financial support for semi-mechanical enterprises to better meet workers’ financial needs and the provision of regular protective gear, such as helmets and masks, to mechanical operators. These measures are critical for reducing risks such as exposure to faecal matter, dust, and chemicals.