Uganda Raises the Bar with Bold Targets as Regulators Champion Water Efficiency
The ministry set out an ambitious plan to achieve full wastewater compliance within 18 months, a target experts say would greatly enhance environmental protection and public health.
Uganda has unveiled a set of expansive goals to strengthen water and sanitation services nationwide, announced after the 2025 Water Utilities Regulators Conference wrapped up in Kampala.
The three-day gathering brought together government leaders, regulators, and sector specialists from across Africa to shape the future of water governance and sustainable service delivery.
Dr. Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment, urged service providers and customers alike to collaborate in reaching Uganda’s national WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) objectives.
“We won’t achieve efficiency if one side moves while the other stands still,” Dr. Okidi told participants. “Service providers must lift performance, but consumers must also use water responsibly. We want other countries to learn from Uganda’s wins and, just as importantly, from our challenges.”
Conference delegates praised regulators and partners for directly addressing long-standing bottlenecks, including high operating costs, tariff gaps, and the often-neglected sanitation sector.
Among the commitments, Uganda aims to cut national water losses by five percent. This reduction is expected to recover at least Shs 16 billion and enable water connections for thousands of additional customers.
The ministry reiterated its pledge to reach 100 percent wastewater compliance within 18 months, a milestone that experts say would markedly improve environmental protection and public health.
Commissioner Dr. Eng. Kweronda Frank highlighted that reducing non-revenue water losses—stemming from leaks, illegal connections, or metering issues—remains a top priority.
“Each year, the country loses billions because the water we produce isn’t the water we actually sell,” he stated. “We are expanding regional calibration centers and rolling out a new framework to support affordable and efficient rural water systems.”
The conference concluded with a strong emphasis on regional collaboration, innovation, and accountability as nations strive to secure safe, sustainable water for all.
But here’s where it gets controversial: how aggressively should Uganda push tariffs, subsidies, and enforcement to reach these targets without placing undue burden on low-income households? And this is the part most people miss—balancing rapid infrastructure gains with affordability often requires nuanced policy mixes and inclusive stakeholder dialogue. What’s your take on the best path forward: bolder aggressive reform or more gradual, equity-focused steps?
