Despite being almost entirely surrounded by water, residents of Kalangala District are facing a severe shortage of clean and safe water, exposing a troubling paradox in one of Uganda’s most water-covered regions.
Kalangala, located on the Ssese Islands in Lake Victoria, spans roughly 9,103 square kilometers, of which only 468.3 square kilometers is land. Approximately 95 percent of the district is covered by water, yet this abundance has not translated into access to safe and affordable drinking water for many of its estimated 70,000 residents.
The district comprises 84 islands, of which only 64 are inhabited. Across these islands, thousands rely on unsafe water sources, reflecting the local saying that “living near water does not guarantee access to clean water.”
Currently, the cost of clean water remains high for many households. On Bugala Island, a jerrycan of water costs about Shs 700, while on larger islands such as Nkose, Lujaabwa, and Mazinga, prices can rise to Shs 1,000 or more, making daily access a challenge for low-income families.
Henry Lubulwa, a government official, noted that initiatives such as Kalangala Infrastructure Services were introduced to improve piped water access, but these remain largely confined to Buggala Island.
"Kalangala has more than 60 inhabited islands, yet access to clean piped water is largely limited to Buggala Island. Some of the infrastructure that was meant to pump and distribute water to other islands has broken down, leaving many communities without reliable access to safe water," Lubulwa explained.
To draw national attention to the crisis, the Buganda Kingdom chose to commemorate World Water Day in the Ssese Islands. Teddy Galiwango, the kingdom’s environmental coordinator, said the location highlights the stark contradiction of water abundance alongside water scarcity.
"Our aim is to raise awareness about the importance of protecting water sources and investing in systems that ensure communities have access to safe and clean water. We want leaders and stakeholders to reflect deeply on the value of water and take collective action to address these challenges," Galiwango said.
Health experts warn that the lack of clean water is already taking a toll on residents, with waterborne diseases such as bilharzia and diarrhea common across the district. Many residents rely on untreated lake water for domestic use, increasing their risk of infection.
Local leaders are now calling for urgent intervention from both government and development partners to expand water infrastructure, repair broken systems, and ensure equitable distribution across all inhabited islands.
The irony remains stark: Kalangala District, surrounded by one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes, still leaves thousands of residents struggling daily to access a basic necessity—clean and safe water.