In Uganda today, the luxury of simply turning on a tap and receiving clean water remains out of reach for many. UNICEF estimates that almost 38% of Ugandans still lack access to safe water. In rural and underserved areas, the challenge is even greater, with women and children often trekking about three kilometers each day to collect water from sources that are typically unsafe.
This dire situation is a significant public health concern. Waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery continue to afflict communities, especially those relying on unprotected water sources—a reality confirmed by a 2023 Ministry of Water and Environment report, which found that 33% of rural households depend on such sources. Clearly, tackling the clean water crisis is imperative.
Clean water access is not just essential for survival; it is a fundamental right that is tied directly to lower child mortality, improved educational outcomes (particularly for girls), and stronger local economies. Without it, communities remain trapped in cycles of poverty and disease, hindering broader socioeconomic progress.
The Ugandan government has initiated several measures aimed at improving water access. Through the Ministry of Water and Environment, a range of both rural and urban water supply programs have been launched, including investments in gravity flow schemes and solar-powered water systems. More recently, a new policy has been introduced to expand piped water infrastructure, targeting more reliable and accessible water services in rural and peri-urban communities.
While these initiatives are promising, their success depends on consistent implementation, sufficient funding, and equitable service delivery. Complementing these public sector efforts, private enterprises have also stepped in to bridge the gaps. For example, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project has invested in over 15 boreholes to supply clean water to an estimated 3,600 people along its route by replacing ten project-affected water points and installing five new boreholes.
Although such private sector contributions are commendable, they simultaneously highlight a deeper imperative: sustainable access to clean water must be anchored in continuous public investment, robust government policies, and legal safeguards that affirm water as a universal right.
Under Article 39 of Uganda’s Constitution, the right to a clean and healthy environment is formally recognized. However, fully realizing this right—particularly in the realm of clean water access—demands rigorous policy execution and continuous support for water infrastructure initiatives.
Relying on ad hoc corporate projects or voluntary efforts leaves clean water access inconsistent and unpredictable by subjecting critical infrastructure to private decision-making instead of safeguarding it as a public asset. Communities should not have to depend on occasional borehole donations; secure and safe water must be a guaranteed right.
Regional collaboration is equally important. Uganda’s water issues are part of a broader East African challenge, where climate change, population increases, and industrial development place escalating pressure on resources. Achieving long-term resilience will require harmonized policies, shared resource management across borders, and joint investment strategies.
While contributions from the private sector and community initiatives are valuable, a lasting solution lies in proactive government action, sound policy-making, and active civic engagement.
Access to clean water must be treated as a national priority, crucial for the health and prosperity of all Ugandans. The call to action is straightforward but urgent: water must be enshrined as a protected human right with concrete measures to ensure its availability to everyone.
Water should never be a privilege reserved for a select few; it must be a guaranteed resource for all. Ensuring this requires moving beyond intermittent goodwill to sustained, systemic action—an obligation that Uganda, and every nation, owes to its people.
