Ugandans still struggle with access to safe water, statistics show
A man fetches water from a well in Nyabubale village, Kiko town council in Kabarole District. Photo | Alex Ashaba
What you need to know:
- According to Ministry data, as of 2023, the government had constructed 150,837 water supply facilities, including 42,007 deep boreholes, 21,722 shallow wells, 29,261 protected springs, 37,480 public stand posts/taps, and 20,367 rainwater harvesting tanks.
Water is essential for life, yet many Ugandans, both in rural and urban areas, continue to face challenges in accessing safe clean water.
Mary Kafuko, a resident of Bugiri District, walks 5 kilometers every day to fetch clean water from a borehole in another sub-county. The borehole in her sub-county broke down two months ago and has not been repaired since.
"If you want drinking water, you have to go to the borehole that is far away. For other water needs, such as bathing, house chores, and for animals to drink, we use water from an unprotected well that is not safe for drinking," Ms Kafuko explained.
Ms Kafuko’s situation is not unique—many Ugandans are facing similar challenges due to limited access to clean and safe drinking water.
According to the Ministry of Water and Environment, in 2023, only 33 million Ugandans had access to safe water services, while at least 14 million lacked access to clean and safe water.
To address this issue, the Ministry of Water and Environment has partnered with non-governmental organizations such as Goal Uganda to improve access to safe water in various regions of the country. This collaboration aims to educate communities on how to manage water sources like hand-pumps, ensuring they remain functional.
This initiative is part of the revised Operation and Maintenance Policy for water infrastructure, which seeks to empower local communities with the skills needed to maintain hand-pump water schemes for sustainability.
Speaking at an event in Hoima District on Wednesday, where stakeholders discussed water challenges, Eng Wilfred Okello from the Ministry of Water highlighted the issue of broken water sources, such as boreholes. He noted that when these boreholes break down, communities often resist repairing them.
“There are systems we are testing to ensure that when hand-pumps break down, they are repaired on time so that communities are not deprived of water,” Mr Okello said. “Often, when a borehole breaks down, people pool money together and hire a mechanic for repairs. The prepaid system aims to ensure equal contribution for repairs, as some people are reluctant to contribute.”
Joseph Akotch, an official from Goal Uganda, said data shows that about 30 percent of water sources are non-functional, which is a significant concern for leaders.
"Operational maintenance is critical to keep these water sources functioning and maintain them for continuous water supply. Uganda has about 43,000 hand pumps, but imagine, 30 percent of them are not working," Mr Akotch said.
Eng Mwesigwa Robert, the Bugiri District Local Government Water Officer, called for increased government funding to repair and maintain water sources, as well as to increase the number of water sources to alleviate the pressure on existing ones.
According to Ministry data, as of 2023, the government had constructed 150,837 water supply facilities, including 42,007 deep boreholes, 21,722 shallow wells, 29,261 protected springs, 37,480 public stand posts/taps, and 20,367 rainwater harvesting tanks.
