Health ministry PS Atwine to represent Uganda at global summit in Madrid

MADRID - Health ministry permanent secretary Dr Diana Atwine is representing Uganda at the Ministerial Roundtables ahead of the 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM) in Madrid, Spain, according to reports reaching New Vision Online.

The 2025 Sector Ministers’ Meeting (SMM), slated for October 22–23, 2025, brings together leaders under the theme: Breaking Silos: Uniting Political Leadership to Integrate Water, Sanitation, and Climate Action.

According to the sector meeting statement, the two-day event will open with daily “scene-setting” plenary sessions, followed by focused ministerial dialogues aimed at tackling pressing challenges, fostering problem-solving, and strengthening partnerships between governments and development partners.

“On the first day, discussions will center on accelerating the integration of national policies and strategies, promoting cross-sector collaboration, and building the technical and institutional capacity needed to dismantle silos between water, sanitation, hygiene, water resource management, and climate action,” reads the statement.

While the second day will take the dialogue further by focusing on coordinated sector reforms and sustainable financing.

“Ministers and development partners will work together to identify concrete pathways for delivering resilient services, enhancing accountability, and expanding inclusive financing mechanisms,” adds the press statement.

Atwine will join ministers from Africa, Europe, Asia and South America. 

The meeting will conclude with the official launch of a High-Level Leaders’ Compact on Water Security and Resilience, a landmark agreement outlining shared commitments and practical steps to strengthen global and national leadership in ensuring safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient water and sanitation systems for all.

The meeting, co-convened by the Government of Spain, UNICEF and the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership, is designed to align global efforts on water, climate, and development agendas, particularly focusing on sanitation and hygiene.

Following the 2022 Ministerial Meeting, Uganda has made significant progress in integrating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) priorities into broader health and climate agendas.

The country’s holistic approach is anchored on three key interventions, such as the establishment of a WASH and Climate Task Force to align national adaptation and resilience strategies with WASH goals; the embedding of WASH priorities into the Health–National.

The SMM will enable African leaders to share lessons, deepen south–south cooperation, and accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) — ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

“African governments have shown that when political will meets partnership, results follow,” said Muyatwa Sitali, Acting CEO of Sanitation and Water for All (SWA). “The SMM is where global commitments meet local realities, and Africa’s leadership will be critical to achieving lasting change.”