Water progress in Uganda leaves one in six villages behind

What the report says

Uganda’s water sector has posted measurable gains, but lawmakers say the improvements are not reaching many rural communities, according to The Independent Uganda. The report says Water and Environment Minister Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire presented ministry performance for the 2025/26 financial year showing national access to safe water rose from 71.2% to 73.6%, above the annual target. Even so, more than 12,000 villages and cells still lack an improved water source.

The article says MPs used the budget review to argue that the country’s challenge is increasingly about last-mile delivery, maintenance and project completion rather than only expanding infrastructure. They pointed to unfinished rural projects in parts of Karamoja, water scarcity in Pakwach and Ntoroko, and the burden on schools and households that must share limited water points. Some legislators also questioned whether existing systems were designed for current population levels.

The ministry reported rural water access at 72%, urban access at 75.2% and refugee-hosting communities at 76%, with functionality remaining high across those areas. It also said 27 piped-water systems and 1,238 rural point-water facilities were rehabilitated, helping restore supply to more than 464,000 people. Irrigation gains were limited, while environmental indicators were mixed: forest and landscape restoration exceeded targets, but wetlands, air quality and wastewater compliance remain concerns.

The debate matters because it links water access to public health, education and resilience to drought, and highlights ongoing pressure on Uganda’s infrastructure and environmental systems.