Uganda

Responding to the significant lack of access to drinking water and sanitation, the deep-seated poverty, and the high infant mortality rate, Water For People began preparatory work in Uganda in mid-2008 and became an official registered organization in the country in September 2008. Water For People–Uganda is exploring ways to promote “Sanitation as a Business” as well as pro-local private sector initiatives designed to overcome water and sanitation challenges.

Access to safe water in Uganda is slowly increasing, but access to improved sanitation has flatlined in many districts and in several areas, access is actually decreasing. To address this, Water For People–Uganda will focus on sanitation management and maintenance and will work to build a strong sanitation program.

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Uganda News

  • Water For People Receives Funding for Sanitation as a Business Program [read more]

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Population:
29,899,000
Languages:
English, Luganda
Per capita income:
$880
Life expectancy:
49/51
Under-five mortality rate:
134/1,000 live births
Rural access to improved drinking
water sources:
60%
Rural access to improved sanitation:
34%
Source:
World Health Organization

Uganda from the ground up

Water and Sanitation

Water For People is in the early stages of establishing programming in Uganda. Two districts have been selected—Mukono and Kyenjojo—and Water For People will focus on the two subcounties of Nama and Kyarusozi. Mapping studies were conducted in both subcounties (105 villages and 604 water points) in February 2009, which provided baseline information for program planning. Water For People plans to build on the "Sanitation as a Business" initiative and privately managed water systems in these two subcounties.

Next Steps

Water For People is in the process of developing partnerships with two local NGOs—Uganda Environmental Education Foundation (UEEF) and Health through Water and Sanitation (HEWASA)—which are both involved in the early stages of establishing a Sanitation Business Network. The organization is also working with UEEF in Nama and HEWASA in Kyarusozi to pilot Ecological Sanitation (EcoSan) latrines to better understand issues surrounding EcoSan in these areas (cost, household technology preference, decomposition time, etc.).

 


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