In Uganda, water (or the water sector) is recognized as key in
achieving economic growth and development, and maintaining
a healthy and economically productive population. Access to
water is a prerequisite to improved health, livelihoods and
overall well
-
being of men, women and children, particularly
among the poor and agrarianrural populations. Rural commu-
nities, comprising an estimated 26 million people or about 85
percent of the entire population of Uganda (UBOS 2010), are
faced with higher levels of poverty, dependency, illiteracy and
poor health, among other issues. According to the recent Na-
tional Household Survey, rural communities account for 94.4
percent of the nation’s poor households (about 7.1 million per-
sons) and close to a half (48%) of households in the two lowest
income classes (UBOS 2010)
