Gov't urged to increase funding the water sector

ENVIRONMENT|WATER|RESOURCES

KAMPALA - The Ministry of Water and Environment has asked the government to allocate more funding in the water sector in order to ensure provision of quality water and environmental protection services in the country.

The ministry is charged with management and sustainable utilization of water and environment resources for the betterment of the population and ensuring that all Ugandans have access to safe and clean water.

Dr Callist Tindimugaya, the Water Resources Planning and Regulation Commissioner, said Uganda's water supply system for many years in rural areas has been at 71% to 21% in urban areas.

To ensure all Ugandans get access to safe water, Tindimugaya stressed that, "We need more money to be able to invest in the water and environment resources for development. Currently, our water storage capacity is very minimal due to lack of storage facilities."

Tindimugaya made the remarks during the closing of the ministry's virtual conference at the water ministry headquarters in Luzira last week, Friday (September 18, 2020).

Tindimugaya recommended all stakeholders in different disciplines to get involved in the water storage in order to have water during the dry season.

Among the key issues addressed during the conference included, financial resources, coordination and degradation of water, environment and natural resources.

Tindimugaya explained that, "There has been rationing of water. We received requests from the private sector to construct their own wells.  If we don't have good quality water, we are not secure."

The Prime minister's speech, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, read by Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent secretary in the water ministry, said the continued loss and degradation of wetlands, forests and river banks affects livelihoods and their ability to mitigate climate change impacts.

Rugunda called for prioritising, securing the boundaries of wetlands, river banks, forests and need to protect and restore water catchments, especially those that have been degraded.

The minister of state for water, Ronald Kibuule, in his speech read by Dr Florence Grace Adongo, the Director, Directorate of Water Resources Management, called for efforts to ensure that water resources are sustainably managed for the present and future generations.

"The impact of climate change brings additional challenges, we need to add value on water and environmental resources if we have to manage its succession and sustainability," explained Kibuule.