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Its mission is to strengthen Uganda’s water and sanitation sector NGOs/CBOs as well as the coordination and
collaboration among them and other stakeholders. Its objectives are to:
- Strengthen collaboration between NGOs/CBOs central and local Governments;
- Promote partnerships between NGOs/CBOs and other stakeholders in the Ugandan WASH sector;
- Strengthen collaboration and networking among NGOs/CBOs at local, national, regional and global levels;
- Contribute to the development and implementation of sector policies, strategies, standards and guidelines.
The core functions of UWASNET are: networking, sharing information, coordination and collaboration including
maintaining a database of NGOs/CBOs, contributing to sector relevant thematic issues, strengthening NGO/CBO
role and image through advocacy, lobbying and partnership. UWASNET has an additional function of capacity
building including strengthening members, channelling funds for piloting programmes involving new approaches,
innovations and scaling-up as well as identifying best practices. It also handles delegated programmes like the
National hand washing, Hygiene Improvement Project (HIP) and others.
UWASNET through member NGOs complements Government efforts in sector service delivery in terms of
financing, mobilisation and training of communities and Local Governments, in addition to direct implementation
of water supply and sanitation activities. Most of their activities are cross-cutting, covering a number of subsectors,
although most of the NGOs emphasise the provision of domestic water supply, sanitation, hygiene
promotion in rural and urban areas.
2. Water and Sanitation sub-sector overview and NGO investment
2.1 Sub-Sector overview
The Ugandan Water and Sanitation sub-sector, which is the focus of this Report, forms part of the Water and
Environment Sector, led by the Ministry of Water and Environment.
2.1.1 Sector Development Framework
Since 1997, water and sanitation development was conducted under auspices of the Poverty Eradication Action
Plan (PEAP), revised in 2004. The national framework for development is undergoing the final stages of transition
to working under the National Development Plan (NDP), within which water and sanitation features under four
themes: Agriculture (Water for Production and Water Resources Management (WRM)), Environment and Natural
Resources (WRM), Health and Nutrition (Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) and Urban Water Supply and
Sanitation (UWSS)) and Physical Infrastructure (RWSS, UWSS and WfP).
The policy framework for the sub-sector includes: The National Water Policy (1992), National Environment
Management Policy (1994); the Wetlands Policy (1995), the upcoming Land Use Policy; National Health Policy and
Health Sector Strategic Plan (1999); National Environmental Health Policy (2005); the School Health Policy (2006),
and the National Gender Policy (1997).
The legal framework is comprised of Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (1995), The Water Act, The
Environment Act, The National Water and Sewerage Corporation Act, The Local Governments Act, Land Act, The
Public Health Act (1964) and The Children Statute (1996).
Supporting standards and regulations include: The Water Resources Regulations (1998), The Water Supply
Regulations (1998), The Water (Waste discharge) Regulations (1998), The Sewerage Regulations (1999), The Waste
Management Regulations (1999), Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (1998), National Environment
(Standards for Discharge of Effluent into Water or on Land) Regulations (1999) and p) National Environment
(Waste Management) Regulations (1999).
The policy objectives of the sub-sector are:
- To manage and develop the water resources of Uganda in an integrated and sustainable manner, so as to
secure and provide water of adequate quantity and quality for all social and economic needs of the present
and future generations with the full participation of all stakeholders;
- To provide “sustainable provision of safe water within easy reach and hygienic sanitation facilities, based on
management responsibility and ownership by the users, to 77% of the population in rural areas and 100% of
the urban population by the year 2015 with an 80%-90% effective use and functionality of facilities”;
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