Abstract: This study looked at community project monitoring and evaluation as a boost towards sustainability of rural water supply systems in Kasese District, Uganda. This study adopted mixed methods design. The sample was 398 with a response rate of 99.5%. Data collection instruments included; questionnaire, an interview guide and focus group discussion guide. Findings revealed a strong positive relationship (r = 0.5023, p = 0.0000). This indicates that enhanced monitoring and evaluation practices are significantly associated with improved sustainability of rural water supply systems. Regression results indicate a significant positive relationship between community project monitoring and evaluation and sustainability of rural water supply systems, with a coefficient of 0.620 and a p-value of less than 0.001 suggesting that as community project monitoring and evaluation increase, sustainability of rural water supply systems also tends to increase. It was concluded that Monitoring and Evaluation is one of the most critical factors in ensuring sustainability and that communities which implemented consistent monitoring and evaluation practices were more likely to identify and resolve system issues promptly for proper functionality of water supply systems. It was recommended that Ministry of Water and Environment should strengthen Monitoring and evaluation systems by establishing clearer performance indicators, regular community-based assessments, and transparent reporting practices. It was further recommended that Kasese District Local Government should be holding frequent workshops on monitoring and evaluation to improve the technical know-how of water management committees leading to timely identification of issues and continuous improvements in water systems.

Abstract: This study looked at community project monitoring and evaluation as a boost towards sustainability of rural water supply systems in Kasese District, Uganda. This study adopted mixed methods design. The sample was 398 with a response rate of 99.5%. Data collection instruments included; questionnaire, an interview guide and focus group discussion guide. Findings revealed a strong positive relationship (r = 0.5023, p = 0.0000). This indicates that enhanced monitoring and evaluation practices are significantly associated with improved sustainability of rural water supply systems. Regression results indicate a significant positive relationship between community project monitoring and evaluation and sustainability of rural water supply systems, with a coefficient of 0.620 and a p-value of less than 0.001 suggesting that as community project monitoring and evaluation increase, sustainability of rural water supply systems also tends to increase. It was concluded that Monitoring and Evaluation is one of the most critical factors in ensuring sustainability and that communities which implemented consistent monitoring and evaluation practices were more likely to identify and resolve system issues promptly for proper functionality of water supply systems. It was recommended that government should improve monitoring and evaluation frameworks by establishing clearer performance indicators, having regular community-based assessments, and transparent reporting practices. It was further recommended that the Ministry of Water and Environment should be holding frequent workshops on monitoring and evaluation practices regularly since they can improve the technical know-how of water management committees leading to timely identification of issues and continuous improvements in water systems.