Health 14 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
WASH Inequality Disproportionately Harms Uganda's Poor, Report Reveals
A recent WaterAid report highlights that Uganda's poorest households face the most severe consequences of widening inequalities in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, exacerbated by declining funding. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/wash-inequality-hits-the-poor-hardest-says-report-5631492
Uganda’s most vulnerable populations are bearing the brunt of a growing disparity in access to essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services. A new 2025 WASH report by WaterAid indicates that impoverished households are significantly less likely to treat their drinking water, while women continue to bear the primary responsibility for water collection, underscoring deep-rooted gender and economic inequalities.
The study, presented at the 16th WASH Civil Society Organisations (CSO) annual forum, found that for low-income families, the ability to ensure safe water and adequate sanitation at home is heavily dependent on their financial status and location. The report states that the poorest households are 6.4 times less likely to treat their drinking water, exposing them to greater health risks.
These findings emerge at a critical juncture as WASH sector investment in Uganda has seen a notable decline. Total investment dropped from Shs67.8 billion in FY 2023/2024 to Shs45.6 billion in FY 2025/2026, presenting a significant challenge to improving services. WaterAid Uganda Country Director, Dr. Joyce Mpalanyi Magala, emphasized the urgent need for targeted investments, climate-resilient infrastructure, and sustainable financing to prevent vulnerable communities from being left behind.
Geographical location also plays a substantial role, with urban households showing significantly higher rates of water treatment and access to handwashing facilities compared to their rural counterparts. For instance, Kampala reported a 91.5 percent household water-treatment rate, starkly contrasting with Lango’s mere 3.8 percent.
The report also sheds light on dire conditions in schools, particularly in rural areas, where a large number of pupils share inadequate toilet facilities. Furthermore, children with disabilities face considerable barriers in accessing WASH services within educational institutions. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Environment, Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, stressed the importance of enhanced collaboration among government, CSOs, and the private sector to streamline WASH investments and ensure resources are effectively directed to areas of greatest need.