Health 27 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Soroti District Grapples with Over 12,000 Practicing Open Defecation
A significant sanitation deficit in Soroti District leaves over 12,000 residents resorting to open defecation, raising serious health concerns among district officials. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/over-12-000-soroti-residents-rely-on-open-defecation-5573936
Over 12,000 individuals in Soroti District are currently without access to basic sanitation facilities, leading them to practice open defecation. This alarming figure, revealed by district health officials, poses a substantial risk of sanitation-related diseases spreading within the communities.
Emmanuel Ekodeu, the District Inspector of Health, pointed to several contributing factors, including challenging soil conditions and rocky terrain that hinder the construction of durable pit latrines. He emphasized that during rainy seasons, this practice heightens the danger of human waste contaminating water sources, potentially leading to outbreaks of diarrhoeal and other faecal-oral illnesses.
“We are not performing well in terms of sanitation and hygiene,” Ekodeu stated. Soroti District, with a population of over 324,000, has an estimated 80 percent pit latrine coverage. The district is actively engaging with local leaders and communities, particularly in trading centers, to promote the construction and utilization of proper latrines. Furthermore, residents are urged to install and use handwashing facilities with soap and water.
Handwashing coverage in the district is critically low, at just 15.1 percent. Ekodeu highlighted its crucial role in disease prevention. In Takaramiam Village, for instance, out of 313 households, 113 still resort to open defecation due to a lack of knowledge in latrine construction and difficult ground conditions. Local leaders have pledged to mobilize residents to address these sanitation challenges.
Community members are calling for intensified awareness campaigns, recognizing the direct link between poor sanitation and prevalent illnesses such as diarrhea and cholera. Nationally, Uganda faces a significant sanitation crisis, with an estimated 14.6 million people, or approximately 32.4 percent of the population, reportedly practicing open defecation.