Public water and waste management in Uganda: the legal framework, obstacles and challenges

Abstract

Access to public services in developing countries is always inefficient and resistant to reform. Despite substantial investments in public water and waste management in Uganda, coverage and service levels have failed to improve as expected due to sluggish progress. Whereas there may be substantial legal framework in place, there are challenges and obstacles which affect adequate access to these services. Only 32 % of Ugandans have access to safe water supply, while only 19 % have access to basic sanitation. This is partly attributed to lack of enforcement and weak punitive measures in the relevant legal framework. Other challenges include, poor management, corruption, politicization and lack of the requisite political will, rapid population growth, poor infrastructure, lack of technical capacity, and poor financing. The government has devised among others private takeover of some public services by profit maximising companies which in turn alienates the poor from accessing them. Therefore this desk review suggests the way forward towards a sustainable public water and waste management.