Dear reader,
It is a great honour to once again bring to you the WASH Journal, a publication that brings to you news, interviews and insights on water, hygiene and sanitation issues from stakeholders in government and private sector.
This magazine has, in a modest way, played a notable role in bringing WASH matters to the public consciousness. I would therefore like, from the onset, to thank all the partners who have continued to support our efforts to educate the public in different ways.
The story of this magazine shows what is achievable whenever we put our minds together for a good cause. Admittedly, WASH issues are not the “man bites dog kind of news” that all the major news organisations in Uganda rush for. However, our passion for the water and sanitation issues has seen the team behind this magazine persevere against all odds to continue to educate the public.
Several organisations that advocate for WASH issues battle against similar, or even greater, odds to play their role. Indeed, as you will see from our analysis of the Water Ministry’s Sector Performance Report for 2018, even the government does not have a bottomless pit of cash with which to work towards achieving its targets.
However, what marks out every institution battling against various odds to serve Ugandans is that they never quit. That resilience in the face of limited resources is what will continue to inspire more and more Ugandans to improve their water and sanitation facilities. It is also what will encourage more partners to come on board and support our cause.
My own call towards all players in the WASH sector is to be your brother’s keeper. Ours is a push towards a common goal. We can reach that goal faster if we work together, hold the hand of those that are faltering and prop up those that are momentarily drained by the journey travelled so far.
As a respected senior manager says in one of our interviews, there is a lot that we can achieve if we work together and continue to learn from one another. Let’s use the platforms provided by both the government and the Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network (UWASNET) to find solutions that enable us reach our mutual goal faster.
Finally, allow me to say a special, heartfelt thank you to our partners who have directly supported the production of this magazine. These are the Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Health, Amref Health Africa, WaterAid, Water for People and Pentecostal Assemblies of God.
Thank you. Eyalama noi. Mwebale nyo. Apwooyo matek. Mwebare munonga. Asante sana.
