It seems that the Ugandan experience of the Sector Wide Approach to Planning (SWAp) in the Water and Sanitation sub-sector proved to be both an eye opener and a scare for WASH sector stakeholders from countries that are now making the effort to follow in Uganda’s footsteps. “After listening to my Ugandan colleague, I wonder whether SWAp is still the best way forward” Mr. Aboagye Minta, the Director of Water at the Ministry of Water Resources Works and Housing (MWRWH) in Ghana remarked. This observation was made after Engineer Disan Ssozi of the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) shared some of the Ugandan SWAp experiences in the water and sanitation sub-sector at the International Symposium on Rural Water Services. During the Symposium’s Harmonisation and Coordination session, Mr. Ssozi outlined some of the disadvantages of the harmonised and coordinated approaches used in the national SWAp and compared these with previous project-based approaches. Drawbacks included reduced innovative/new approaches; lack of staff motivation; diminished financial flows and slow procurement process. Indeed, according to Engineer Ssozi, greater efficiencies were reached under the previous project-based approach than under the present SWAp programme in which the Ugandan government plays the leading role. He further outlined the challenges linked to inadequate sector financing and rapid decentralisation. The creation of new districts for example, poor district-based operations and water facility maintenance are all contributing to increases in the cost of service delivery. Engineer Ssozi did however underline some of the positive effects of the SWAp such as highlighting the need for better governance and development of strategic investment plans. Indeed in taking the standpoint that there was ‘no going back’, Mr Ssozi was keen to emphasise the need for engagement with and improving the government systems that are hampering progress under the SWAp. Unsurprisingly, the comments were received with a degree of astonishment by countries such as Ghana and Mozambique that are moving towards the implementation of SWAps. When asked whether his opinion of the SWAp had changed after the presentation, Mr Minta responded that the problems outlined would be seen more as lessons and that Ghana would strive to avoid some of the pitfalls described. Ultimately, what the Ugandan experience shows is that SWAp in the WASH sub-sector does not automatically address the questions of sector harmonisation and coordination or even service sustainability. By removing the scapegoat of disorganised donors from the equation however, what SWAp does do, is place the spotlight squarely on the national water sector and its relationship with other actors – particularly the Ministry of Finance.