WATER CONSERVATION IN

UGANDA

WATER CRISIS

Thousand of people in 36 of uganda’s 112 districts are at a risk of serious water shortages due to drought attributed to the La Niña weather phenomenon.

Health Hygiene

(Arising problems)

Health officials have warned of outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentry, due to contaminated water.The ministry has issued public alerts, warning of impending severe water shortages and famine in parts of the country is headed for a long period of drought.Poor rainfall- Wells are already drying up in some of the 36 affected districts forcing residents to walk along distance in search of water.

State of water crisis in Uganda

Without access to safe water, Uganda’s many farmers struggle to grow crops or earn a living. There are also many nomadic communities who are difficult to reach with services. The lack of clean water and safe sanitation traps them in poverty.In urban areas, large slums exist without proper drainage or toilets, leaving waste to gather in and around people’s homes.

Water conservation strategy

Minimizing evaporation and run-off and increasing the water holding capacity of the soil are key strategies for subsistence farmers’ training. However, water security is not sufficient on its own since crop yields are steadily declining, and malnutrition is rife. Techniques used include contour cultivation and contour ditches for soil and water conservation, water storage.

Water sources in UgandaAs a whole, Uganda has more than enough freshwater. However, the distribution of the resource is uneven both in spatial and temporal terms. Furthermore, freshwater is increasingly exploited through population growth, urbanization, agriculture, and industrialization.The rivers, lakes and wetlands cover about 18% of Uganda's total surface, including Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake and one of the major sources of the Nile River, the longest river of the world. Almost the entire country lies within the Nile basin. Rainfall contributes most to the country's surface and groundwater.

Access of water

Millions of pupils in rural schools in Uganda still struggle to access water and sanitation facilities.The schools where such pupils study from are part of the over half of the developing world’s primary schools that do not have access to water and sanitation facilities.

Current Water status

The Ugandan water supply and sanitation sector has made substantial progress in urban areas since the mid-1990s, with substantial increases in coverage as well as in operational and commercial performance. Sector reforms in the period 1998-2003 included the commercialization and modernization of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) operating in cities and larger towns, as well as decentralization and private sector participation in small towns.These reforms have attracted significant international attention. However, 38% of the population still had no access to an improved water source.

Use of science and technology to conserve water

Awareness Campaigns

Education initiatives, informative workshops for communities and local stakeholders, public awareness campaigns that use popular media or other methods to highlight particular water sustainability issues.Raising awareness can contribute to more efficient use of water resources, protection of aquatic ecosystems, the development of effective environmental and water standards.Just a Drop’s mission is to reduce child mortality by delivering accessible, clean, safe water where it is needed most.The projects support communities through the construction of wells, boreholes, pipelines, hand pumps and establish health and sanitation programmes for some of the poorest and remotest regions in the world.