CSOs asks government to increase access to clean water

Civil society organisations which monitor water, sanitation and hygiene in the country have tasked the government to improve access to clean water for all Ugandans.

A study that was carried out by Sauti za Wananchi in partnership with Uganda Water and Sanitation Network between June and July this years shows that 4 of 10 households in urban areas use piped water while only 1 out of 10 households in rural areas use piped water.

The report also indicates that the residents of urban areas spent 36 minutes accessing clean water compared to rural residents who spend an hour.

The study found out that 6 out of 10 household find water prices to be expensive and 7 out of 10 households make water safe to drink.

Speaking to the media, the programme officer Sauti za Wananchi ,Marie Nanyanzi noted that a lot needs to be done by the government to extend clean and safe water to the rural areas.

Eng. Joseph Oriono, the commissioner Rural Water Supply in the ministry of Water and Environment said the shortage of funds has limited their effort to extend clean water to all Ugandans.

“Everybody wants clean water but it’s because the resource envelope is not enough to reach you all but government has set target of 2040 to ensure that we reach everybody,” he noted.

He noted that the ministry will partner with non-government organisations to sustain available resources.

The study also discovered that the responsibility for collecting water is done largely by women and children

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