LOSCO EMPOWERS WOMEN TO END WATER SCARCITY BY CHALLENGING TRADITIONAL MALE STEREOTYPES IN KABALE DISTRICT

Access to water and Sanitation facilities still remains a challenge and continues to be responsible for high mortality and morbidity in rural and peri urban communities of Kabale district.

There is low awareness of Economic and Social rights especially the right to water and sanitation, the right to land and other natural resources.

Kabale district is a Water stressed area and given that its geographical terrain is predominantly hills, the number of people with limited access to water in rural communities continues to increase. This affects women and girls who walk long distances in search for the much-needed water in order to feed their families and become vulnerable to physical and sexual violence and other life threatening attacks.

To this end, LOSCO is Training local women groups from water stressed areas as masons in construction of ferro cement tanks empowering them to become efficient water users and managers. The organization has established women groups and strengthened existing ones such as Kirigime Women Group and Bigungiro Women group thinking of innovative ways of how to bring water close to themselves and their communities through initiating Rain Water Harvesting Tank Schemes,

“We have noted Women challenging traditional stereotypes by building water and sanitation technologies sometimes face adversity in their communities from their husbands and male leaders. However, we believe that if women can receive comprehensive training and support, they can provide a much-needed service to their communities by introducing simple technologies and strategies, thereby gaining access to the decision-making table” Says Mr. TAREMWA ALBERT, the Executive Director of LOSCO.