Water, sanitation and hygiene are essential for life and health, and are a fundamental human right for every child and adult. Easy access to clean water sources liberates households as it frees up time to do other productive work. Uganda is exceptionally endowed with water resources, covering 43,938sq.km (18%) of its 241,038sq.km total land area.
It is NRM’s duty to exploit this endowment for the wellbeing of all Ugandans. Therefore, NRM is committed to extending clean and safe water to every LC1/village, ultimately providing water to every household. NRM’s priority is to increase safe water supply coverage and equity in the entire country.
In 1986, only 10% (1 in 10) of the population in the rural areas had access to clean safe water. We have since increased access in rural areas (a radius of 1km) to 70% (7 in 10) and urban coverage to 80% (8 in 10). Out of 68,731 villages in Uganda, 48,338 villages have access to clean water.
NRM is going to continue focusing on construction of a safe clean water source in every village for the remaining unserved villages while at the same time implementing other planned interventions to increase safe water coverage in the country.
Piped water main network system increased to 1,200 in urban areas and over 2,000 gravity flow systems by 2019, up from 37 and over 42 respectively in 1986. In the last four years, over 720,000 new customers, including industrial/institutional/ commercial customers were connected to the water supply network and the following are some of the projects to increase access to clean water:
- New large gravity flow schemes were completed in: Lirima – Phase II (Manafwa), Bukwo – Phase II (Bukwo), Bududa-Nabweya - Phase II (Bududa), Bukedea, Upper Sipi (Sironko, Kween, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli) and Ntoroko (Ntoroko).
- Construction work is ongoing on the following gravity flow schemes: i. Namrwodho – Phase II (Nebbi), Kyanvuma, Lambala in Iganga district; Buseta, Kasasira, Kameke, in Pallisa district; Kapala and Kidetok in Serere district. ii. Lirima – Phase II (Manafwa) at 90%: Bukedea (Sironko, Kween, Kapchorwa, Bulambuli) at 90%, Ntoroko (Ntoroko) at 98% and Orom (Kitgum) at 51%.
- Completed construction of piped water systems in 26 towns in Bugongi (Sheema), Bukakata (Masaka), Bukwo, Buliisa, Dokolo, Kagoma (Jinja), Kaliro, Kalongo (Agago), Ocapa and Kyere (Serere), Luuka, Midigo (Yumbe), Ntungamo, Kyalubungu (Isingiro), Nyeihanga (Mbarara), Okoro (Arua), Ovujo (Maracha), Pajule (Pader), Sanga (Kiruhura), Kasagama, Kinuuka (Lyantonde), Namagera (Jinja), Nyahuka (Bundibugyo), Iziru (Jinja), Busede-Bugobya (Jinja) and Kapelebyong.
- Ongoing construction of 11 piped water supply systems, namely Kagadi, Nazigo, Kassanda, Bulegeni, Kacheri-Lokona, Ofua, Bugobya, Bulambuli, Namayingo and Olilim, while 13 towns have been designed to completion and five towns are still under design. Nyakashaka is under procurement and three towns — Mukura, Baale and Wobulenzi not yet designed.
- The following piped water supply systems to small towns were constructed: Amudat, Kumi-Nyero-Ngora, Namwendwa, Pabbo, Buyende, Pacego, Pallisa, Rukungiri Municipality, Namagera, Namukora, Nyeihanga, Kambuga, Namwendwa, Namwiwa and Bulopa. Another three - Lwemiyaga, Kiwoko and Binyinyi — designs were completed and construction is ongoing.