Background
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. Headed by Sarah Bramley, Regional Manager, the organization is exploring ways to promote “Sanitation as a Business” as well as pro-local private sector initiatives designed to overcome water and sanitation challenges.

Water & Sanitation
Access to safe water in Uganda is slowly increasing, but access to improved sanitation has flat-lined 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.

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

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)—who are both involved in the beginning stages of the establishment of a Sanitation Business Network. The organization is also working with UEEF in Nama and HEWESA in Kyarusozi to pilot Ecological Sanitation (EcoSan) latrines to better understand issues surrounding EcoSan in these areas (cost, household technology preference, decomposition time, etc.).