Sanitation campaign launch

Seizing political support for good sanitation

After opening Uganda's sanitation campaign in Kampala, Honourable Maria Mutagamba, Minister of Water and Environment, committed to hold a dedicated parliamentary session on sanitation to solicit more political support.

Minister Mutagamba reiterated the benefits improved sanitation can bring to communities and the country at large:

"…when we practice good sanitation, our children are not at risk of water borne diseases. Clean water and sanitation are not about hygiene and disease; they are about dignity too. Relieving yourself in hazardous places means risking everything from urological disease to harassment and rape.  Many examples show that self-esteem begins with having a safe and proper toilet facility…"

The campaign's key message, as reinforced by the minister, encourages government to focus on sanitation and create a separate budget for its provision. Members of parliament are being called upon to actively oversee value for money in the sector.

'Good sanitation. Better living.'

The launch day was attended by high profile stakeholders ranging from politicians to religious leaders and the media. They form the National Sanitation Working Group (NSWG), working with the Education, Health, and Water and Environment ministries. The group aims to help develop multiple strategies for total sanitation in Uganda under the slogan, 'Good sanitation. Better living.'

The key focus of the launch was the need to scale up efforts to lobby for political support and action on sanitation. Many speakers emphasised that political awareness was the only way to increase and target the financing of the sanitation sector during 2008, the International Year of Sanitation, and beyond. The day included presentations on tried and tested approaches from Uganda and the rest of world in achieving improved sanitation at a significant scale.

The national sanitation action plan (ref the 2008 Ethikwini Declaration) includes further regional sub-launches and local environmental improvement campaigns targeting the core unit of Ugandan societies - the household.