Proper disposal of human excreta is worldwide acknowledged as a commendable practice for a
decent society. To fishing communities along shores of Lake Victoria it is a different story
whereas indiscriminate dropping of human feces is prevalent. This paper narrates the myth
behind persistent open defecation in Ukerewe Island in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Three villages
were involved in this study and findings indicate that, only a small proportion of households in
surveyed villages (Namasabo, Kaunda and Ukara) have temporal pit toilets (29%, 15% and 21%)
while only 1%, 2 % and 4 % have permanent pit toilets respectively. About 28% of the
households have no toilet at all and of these 56% easy themselves in neighbor’s toilets while the
remaining 44% declared to undertake open defecation either in farms/shrubs vicinity to lake
shore or inside the lakes water. It was evident that, people in the study area perceives open
defecation as of low threat to their well-being, while others who easy themselves in lakes water
considers open defecation as a way of enriching the lakes aquatic environment for optimum fish growth. Finally, this study recommends collaboration between Government and communities to
embark on sensitization and promotions in consistent use of toilets as way of abolishing such
shameful and unacceptable practice.