Inadequate Funding for Water, Sanitation Sector Irks CSOs

Water and sanitation civil society organizations (WASH CSOs) in Uganda are expressing concerns about the government's inadequate financing of the sector. Despite the favorable environment created by the government to supplement various social services, including water and sanitation, there remains a lack of sufficient funding from the government to ensure that citizens have access to clean, safe water and live in hygienic conditions.

Yunia Musaazi, the Executive Director of Uganda Water and Sanitation Network-WASNET, emphasized the need for increased government budget allocation to the water, sanitation, and environment sectors. She mentioned that the 13th annual WASH CSO forum is being organized next month, highlighting the urgency of government commitment to funding these critical sectors.

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Musaazi also stressed the importance of addressing the impact of climate change, which is affecting Uganda significantly. She called for collaboration among stakeholders, including the private sector, to mitigate the effects of climate change, as it impacts not only the environment but also private companies reliant on water resources for their production.

Furthermore, Musaazi emphasized the need for Uganda to take ownership and establish a national framework for achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by reviewing the progress made in implementing these goals. While the government has developed various strategies to meet the SDGs by 2030, Musaazi noted that Uganda is currently on track for only two goals—SDG 12 and 13—while falling behind on the rest of the SDGs, including SDG 6, which aims to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all.

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Naomi Kabarungi Wabyona from IRC, an international water and sanitation center, highlighted the short-term results of several water, sanitation, and hygiene projects implemented by both the government and CSOs. She noted that factors like water resource management and climate change have been overlooked, leading to over a third of Ugandans lacking access to safe water and proper hygiene, according to the Ministry of Water and Environment's statistics. 

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Betty Mushabe from the Water for People organization emphasized the need for prioritizing sanitation, as the cost of treating diseases caused by poor sanitation is considerably higher. She pointed out that many people in informal settlements have inadequate toilet services, posing health risks to the community.

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The upcoming 13th CSO Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene forum, scheduled to take place at Hotel Africana next month, will focus on the theme of reviewing progress toward achieving SDG 6 targets.