MAKERERE UNIVERSITY IGANGA-MAYUGE HDSS The Potential of GIS in Determining provision of Basic Services 2009 INDEPTH AGM By Dorean Nabukalu, Darious Kajjo, Daniel Kadobera, George Pariyo, Stefan Peterson, Edward Galiwango, Aloysius Mutebi, Judith Kaija, Karin Kallander

Background Provision of basic services like adequate education and health services is key in alleviating poverty. The district planning unit carries out a needs assessment through participatory meetings with sub county leaders every quarter through out the year. In addition to that it makes use of population census figures to come up with work plans. These work plans are then forwarded to the district council (political leaders) for approval and hence budgeting

Background cont’d This is done bearing in mind their political interests and ignoring recommendations from the planning unit, geographical distribution and accessibility. To this end, the DSS introduced the GIS as a tool that combines different variables to come up with better decision making as regards service provision.

Objectives The main objective was to provide a user friendly tool (product) that could help the district planners and politicians identify the need for provision and allocation of services to the communities of Iganga and Mayuge Districts.

Methodology There are 65 villages in the Iganga/Mayuge HDSS These are distributed in 18 parishes in both Iganga and Mayuge districts. The population is highly concentrated in the trading centres of both districts

Methodology Mapping of health, water sources and educational facilities was done using the 12 channel etrex GPS model Vehicles and motorbikes were used for easy navigation through the DSA. Accurate coordinates were downloaded into an excel worksheet and then to ArcGis 9.1 for development of shape files and map cartography

Map showing Source of water (borehole) distributions Findings Map showing Source of water (borehole) distributions Borehole water is one of the recommended source of safe drinking water However these boreholes are not evenly distributed through out the region as some places go with out.

Area coverage of the health centers Findings Cont’d Area coverage of the health centers Have a total of 13 health centers and 1 hospital within the entire DSA. Using a catchment area of 2.5km radius, some of the areas with relatively high population densities are not covered. This implies that people have to move long distances to acquire health services.

Distribution of Primary schools Findings Cont’d Distribution of Primary schools The population density of children of school going age (6-12 years) varies. The distribution of these primary schools does not follow the population densities

Challenges Security of the GPS was an issue. e.g. During the process two GPS’ were lost by the Field Assistants The rainy season greatly affected the work, as there were always clouds in the sky which affect the accuracy.

Recommendations/conclusion Distribution of boreholes, health facilities and schools does not match population densities. Therefore District planners should combine population figures and GIS information to clearly show need of a service within their work plans. Politicians at the different levels within the district should make use of these maps to help in proper allocation of resources.

Acknowledgement InDepth Network Makerere University Host Districts: Iganga & Mayuge Funders Sida/SAREC The Rockefeller Foundation Iganga/Mayuge DSS Management Iganga/Mayuge DSS Staff Iganga/Mayuge DSA communities