In Mwanza City’s Mabatini-Buzuruga area, steep hillsides and unplanned settlements create a unique challenge: managing sewage is nearly impossible without reliable infrastructure. Houses cling to rocky slopes, and basic sanitation remains out of reach for many.

For 51-year-old Chacha Nyechi, who has worked as a toilet emptier since he was 14, sanitation work is both a livelihood and a challenge. “I’ve done this since 1988. One day, I slipped into a pit while working. You can’t do this job sober,” he jokes.

Chacha and his “toilet emptying specialists” earn their living by charging local households to empty pit latrines—a crucial service in a community with few alternatives.

A bird drinks from a polluted stream, highlighting Mwanza’s waste management challenges. Photo: The Niles / Said Sindo

In Mwanza’s Nyamagana District, Mabatini Ward is home to nearly 24,500 people, but only 23% have access to the city’s sewage services, which are managed by the Mwanza Urban Water and Sewerage Authority (MWAUWASA). This gap forces residents to adopt makeshift waste management solutions, which contributes to pollution in nearby water sources.

One such source is the Kenge River, which borders Mabatini and flows into the heavily polluted Mirongo River and eventually Lake Victoria. With limited access to clean water infrastructure, many residents depend on the river for essential activities such as washing clothes, preparing food, and bathing. However, this reliance comes with health risks, as pollution from waste has made the river a hazardous resource.

People engage in various activities along the Mirongo River—washing, fetching water, and using it as an open toilet. Photo: The Niles / Said Sindo

A 2023 InfoNile investigation found high levels of E. coli, lead, and microplastic in Lake Victoria, indicators of the region’s severe pollution issues. For the residents of Mabatini, however, the lake and rivers remain vital water sources despite these hazards.

Recognising these risks, MWAUWASA recently introduced a sewage system covering two streets within Mabatini Ward, connecting homes to a central treatment facility. While a promising start, most of the ward still awaits connection to safe sewage systems. Local leader Esther Dwashi Masanja donated stones from her property to aid the project, and resident Revina Audax hopes the initiative will improve sanitation and access to clean water.

New sewage infrastructure built by MWAUWASA connects households to a central treatment system in Mabatini South. Photo: The Niles / Said Sindo

Despite these efforts, areas like Northern Mabatini remain reliant on open pits, particularly during the rainy season, when waste is often washed into the Mirongo River. Anthony Msafiri, chairman of St. Benjamin Street, expresses his concerns: “When only part of the area has safe systems, everyone is still at risk of diseases like cholera.”

Clothes dry on rocks near the river, surrounded by litter and waste, showing the community’s dependence on this polluted water source. Photo: The Niles / Said Sindo

MWAUWASA has promoted ecological solutions to address these ongoing challenges, including urine-diverting dehydration toilets (UDDTs). These toilets separate waste for safe reuse, protecting local water sources and benefiting agriculture. Initiatives like the Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Initiative (LVWATSAN) aim to support Mwanza’s gradual expansion of sanitation infrastructure.

A local leader, Esther Dwashi Masanja (67), expresses her satisfaction with new sanitation initiatives improving life in Mabatini South. Photo: The Niles / Said Sindo