Caritas Fort Portal- HEWASA

My motivation to respond to this call is driven by my passionate devotion towards upholding the dignity of the Human Person in a manner that is inclusive irrespective of religion, gender, culture, race or social status. The Elevate Prize would significantly contribute towards attainment of this passion through mentorship and backstopping to ensure the sustainability of Caritas’ unique and opportune circular sanitation programme, Financial Inclusion Improves Sanitation & Health (FINISH). Continuing to build organisational capacity as well as leadership, business and marketing development are all welcome areas to grow and support on. Experience from the Caritas team will in turn contribute positively. The team will be able to share successes, challenges and overcome ongoing gaps in different areas of implementation, scaling up, financing and sustainability. FINISH is one of many ambitious programmes Caritas is pioneering, aiming to substantially scale up the access and use of safe sanitation for healthier and socio-economically empowered communities. The programme has ambitious targets, aiming to become the template for sustainable circular sanitation to benefit the crucial agriculture sector on a national scale. Over the period 2020-25, more than 1 million Ugandans will gain access to sustainable, safe sanitation. 

I am a Catholic Priest who grew up in an era of economic downturn in Uganda during the rule of Dictator Idi Amin, characterised by poverty, disease, and scarcity of essential commodities (salt, soap, sugar, clothes). I learnt that poverty must be fought. I learnt the value of work and human dignity. It motivates me knowing that people have the power to lift themselves out of poverty when they are stimulated. People have the power when helped to help themselves. My passion is to see people live a dignified and prosperous life. Since my early years, I have dedicated my time to support the under-privileged inclusive of children, orphans, widows and refugees. To date, I have fundraised and supported over 1,000 children.

I was appointed Director Caritas Fort Portal–HEWASA in 2004. Caritas’ work is anchored in nine principles of the social teachings of the Church and is a trusted pillar of the community, working to ensure living a dignified life is attainable for all. These­ principles rhyme with my passion and have motivated me and my staff as we strive to holistically connect the community foundations of the Church with improving the well-being of the people we serve.

A healthy population in a healthy environment,” Such is the vision that drives Caritas Fort Portal-HEWASA to undertake community transformation and environmental conservation initiatives in Uganda.  As a social services arm of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Portal, the Organisation (established 1980) as an emergency and charity organization to support the people affected by the civil unrest that was affecting Uganda at the time. These included the internally displaced people, the orphans, and vulnerable children. The organization was operating as a Faith-based Organisation. In 1993, the organization expanded to include water, sanitation and hygiene, justice and peace, agriculture development services, and financial services. The organisation was operating in Western Uganda but has since grown and attained a national character, also implementing in Northern Uganda. Caritas Fort Portal-HEWASA is a trusted non-governmental organisation (NGO) embedded within the local communities pursing a mission of providing quality and cutting-edge Integrated Social Services geared towards creating a healthy and prosperous population that is environmentally responsible, with secure and sustainable livelihoods. Caritas Fort Portal-HEWASA is responsible for constructing over 40% of existing water gravity flow schemes in the Western region and has facilitated the construction of over 100,000 household latrines over the last 7 years. 

Caritas works towards systems-change for addressing development issues with market-based and inclusive approaches. Interventions and support aim to stimulate underdeveloped local markets, working with governments, communities, entrepreneurs and financiers, for sustainability. Such integrated approaches development issues (in line with national agenda) cross-cuttingly address issues such as water/sanitation/hygiene, gender equity, financial inclusion and improved livelihoods.  Its programmes seek to stimulate access to improved water/sanitation/hygiene (WASH) through comprehensive behavioural change while equitably increasing access to finance, addressing and strengthening entire WASH value chains for a sustainable and scalable approach. During 2021-25, Caritas’ programmes aim to strengthen the link between the WASH (particularly sanitation and waste management) value chains and the critical national industry of agriculture—strengthening the local circular sanitation economy.  Therefore, faecal sludge management is a key priority, linking existing government services and infrastructure with successful business models and designs for energy production from mixed faecal and organic waste for cross-sectoral impact across sanitation, climate resilience and agriculture. This will improve depleted soils, increase agricultural production and overall improve livelihoods for the region. The approach is unique in its emphasis and track record for leveraging grant-funding at a minimum ratio of 1:10 to attract significant local non-grant-based financing to the sector.

FINISH is one dynamic programme under Caritas’ stewardship that has, since 2018, significantly boosted progress towards attaining SDG 6 for communities in Kabarole and Bunyangabu districts achieving: construction of ~26,000 toilets benefiting over 220,000 people, 303 sanitation entrepreneurs supported, +€2.5 million in financial leverage for toilets construction at household and institutional levels, and more than 2,000 school children reached with sanitation and hygiene messaging. This achievement is owed from the innovations within indigenous knowledge and capacity, diversity – focusing on leaving no one behind and in establishment of sustainable partnerships.  The programme works with local governments to advocate for increased public funding to improve sanitation and develop an enabling environment for local sanitation entrepreneurs throughout the region. We facilitate toilets that fit local context and needs, meaning they fit people’s personal circumstances, preferences and are affordable. Safe sanitation provides safety, privacy, comfort and cleanliness catering for dignity and safety of women, men, children, and persons with disabilities. Households have fewer cases of illness, will have more time for income generating activities, this money can be invested in other important livelihood areas, for example education (school fees) and local entrepreneurs are supported to identify new market opportunities to serve with sanitation.