Uganda is home to many different ethnic groups, none of which is a
majority of the population. Around 40 different languages are regularly
used in the country. English became the official language of Uganda
after independence. Ugandan English is a local variant dialect. The
Luganda and Swahili languages are also widely used, and Swahili is the
country’s second official language.
About two-thirds of both the rural and urban populations have access
to safe drinking water. Almost three-fourths of both rural and urban
populations use improved sanitation facilities.
Water For People in Uganda
Water For People began work in Uganda in September 2008, building relationships with the government and local development organizations, and learning about the population’s water and sanitation needs. Working in partnership with local government’s in the districts of Kyenjojo, Mukono, and Kamwenge, Water For People–Uganda strives to provide sustainable access to improved water and sanitation facilities.
Regions
Kyenjojo district is located in western Uganda and is home to approximately 336,000 people. In this largely agrarian region, the majority of people are farmers and the major crops are cassava, coffee, sorghum, and maize. Within the district, Water For People–Uganda is focusing its efforts on the subcounty of Kyarusozi, which consists of 61 villages.
Neighboring Kyenjojo is the district of Kamwenge. This rural district has one of the highest poverty rates in the country. It is home to nearly 365,000 people, most of whom depend on farming to support their families. Water For People–Uganda started working in this district in 2011.
Located in central Uganda, Mukono district has a population of over 565,000. Lake Victoria crosses into the district and makes the areas surrounding the lake a popular tourist destination. Within the district, Water For People–Uganda is focused on the subcounty of Nama. The majority of the people in Nama raise livestock and farm for a living.
Partners
Lasting water and sanitation solutions can only be achieved when local role-players—the private sector, civil society, and local government—are supported. As such, Water For People is deeply involved with key local stakeholders, including the Ugandan government; the governments of Kyenjojo, Mukono, and Kamwenge; and the local partners Health through Water and Sanitation (HEWASA) and the Uganda Environmental Education Foundation (UEEF).
Work in 2011
Water For People–Uganda’s first water project, together with local partner HEWASA and the Kyarusozi local government, is close to completion. Water user committees have been revived, trained, and mobilized with water point management skills in the 10 communities (3,000 people) that will gain access to safe drinking water through this project. The communities have been very active participants in this process, contributing their time, in-kind materials, and cash to the water systems. By the end of June, construction be complete on the 10 water points, either shallow wells or protected springs, and the project is set to be inaugurated in July. Water For People–Uganda will continue to work with the water user committees and monitor and document the management of the water points.
In addition, a full-scale feasibility study was undertaken for a water system set to serve approximately 20,000 people in Kamwenge, Uganda. Engineers and surveyors from the Ministry of Water and Environment, the local district government, and local partner HEWESA participated in the study, supported by Water For People–Uganda. The study was recently completed and Water For People–Uganda is now collaborating with these key partners on the design of this gravity-fed scheme and implementation plan.
