In the face of escalating humanitarian emergencies, the need for effective sanitation solutions has never been more urgent. Disease outbreaks, environmental degradation, and public health crises often stem from inadequate waste management, particularly in refugee settlements and disaster-prone areas.
Recognizing this critical challenge, the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), with support from The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), partner National Societies and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), has taken a groundbreaking step in emergency response by introducing innovative Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) training.
For the first time on the African continent, an intensive two-week FSM training program was conducted in Yumbe and Terego districts. This initiative brought together leading sanitation experts from European Red Cross National Societies—including Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, and the UK—alongside URCS staff, volunteers, and WASH specialists from the Office of the Prime Minister and partners such as Water Mission.
Julia Zeilinger, the Austrian Red Cross WASH delegate and lead trainer, underscored the importance of this milestone. “This is a pioneering initiative; there has never been a similar training conducted on the continent. A pilot session was first held in Vienna, and now we are launching a training cycle, starting with Ugandan participants before incorporating international participants in subsequent sessions,” she explained.
She further highlighted the urgency of FSM in humanitarian settings, given the increasing number of conflicts and disasters that heighten the risk of sanitation-related public health crises.
“Our goal is to go beyond just building latrines. We need to establish a complete sanitation chain that includes the safe management of faecal waste—containing, emptying, transporting, treating, and repurposing it in line with community needs,” she added.
The FSM training program was designed to equip humanitarian frontliners with skills to contain, empty, transport, treat, and repurpose faecal sludge in emergency settings. By ensuring a complete sanitation chain, URCS aims to bridge a longstanding gap in humanitarian response and mitigate public health risks in overcrowded settlements.
The training combined theoretical instruction at the Yumbe District headquarters with practical, on-site experience at URCS’s upgraded Faecal Sludge Management Centre in the Imvepi refugee settlement, Terego District. Participants were trained on how to set up and operate emergency FSM systems in realistic crisis situations, simulating conditions in high-density settlements and flood-prone areas.
Benedikt Orlob, a WASH delegate with the German Red Cross, noted that past global emergencies have demonstrated how inadequate sanitation solutions can exacerbate humanitarian crises. “This initiative is a game-changer in bridging gaps in emergency sanitation by introducing sustainable faecal sludge management methods that protect water sources, ecosystems, and public health,” Orlob said.
Patrick Veltims, a German Red Cross WASH delegate, explained that this initiative builds on years of research to develop FSM solutions suited for densely populated emergency settings.
“The Austrian Red Cross launched this development project three years ago to address the challenge of safely managing faecal sludge in humanitarian crises. After extensive research, we are now in Uganda for the first practical field test of this innovative system,” Veltims said.
A key feature of the FSM system is the integration of a mobile emergency laboratory to monitor treatment effectiveness in real time.
Ibrahim Mukisa, URCS’s FSM Lab Officer, highlighted the lab’s role in ensuring compliance with national safety standards. “Even in crisis situations, we will collect and analyze samples in the mobile lab to guarantee safe effluent discharge,” Mukisa stated.
The FSM system’s adaptability and cost-effectiveness make it a revolutionary tool for disaster response.
James Sunday Mundurugo, URCS’s FSM Supervisor, emphasized the system’s local suitability. “We are incorporating waste containment, transportation, and even the reuse of faecal sludge to create a sustainable cycle. Unlike conventional sewage treatment plants, which are expensive and often impractical in emergencies, this mobile FSM unit is scalable and adaptable,” he noted.
Marco Skodak, another expert involved in the training, stressed that FSM is not just about infrastructure but about establishing a comprehensive waste management system that safely reintegrates faecal sludge into the environment.
A crucial element of the training was empowering local communities to manage FSM operations independently.
Agness Anguparu, the lead volunteer at the upgraded Imvepi FSM Centre, praised the initiative for its hands-on approach. “This experience will enhance our skills and enable us to manage FSM operations effectively, even beyond the training period,” Anguparu said.
Derrick Muhumuza, a member of URCS’s National WASH Response Team and a training participant, echoed this sentiment.
“This program has reshaped our approach to sanitation in emergencies. We are now equipped to handle the entire sanitation chain from waste containment to finding practical uses for the treated products,” Muhumuza said.
The success of this FSM training program marks a significant step in Uganda’s humanitarian response capabilities and sets a precedent for future global initiatives.
With the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters, conflicts, and refugee crises, innovative sanitation solutions like FSM will play a critical role in safeguarding public health and environmental conservation.