89 Percent of Ugandan Households Face Waterborne Disease Risk, UBOS Warns

A staggering 89 percent of households across Uganda remain at risk of contracting waterborne diseases due to contaminated drinking water, according to statistics from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The threat is particularly pronounced in rural areas, where vulnerability climbs to 93 percent.

Speaking ahead of African Statistics Week 2026, UBOS Deputy Executive Director Dr Vincent Fred Ssenono emphasized that reliable data on water and sanitation is crucial for guiding government investments and tackling severe climate-related challenges. While roughly 80 percent of Ugandan households reportedly utilize a safe drinking water source, issues surrounding unsafe transportation, storage, and handling continue to compromise household safety.

Dr Ssenono highlighted how shifting weather patterns are exacerbating the crisis, causing severe droughts that dry up boreholes in some regions while triggering destructive floods in others. Without precise local data, public authorities struggle to identify vulnerable communities, track failed water infrastructure, and deploy climate-resilient solutions where they are needed most.

Echoing these concerns, Mr Thomas Lutalo, Director of Methodology at UBOS, noted that institutionalizing robust water and sanitation statistics is essential for accurate budgeting and project monitoring. UBOS is currently collaborating with local governments to strengthen data collection mechanisms at the grassroots level.

The findings were released as part of preparations for African Statistics Week, which focuses on sustainable development and climate resilience through improved water management data. Read the original report on the Daily Monitor.