Uganda’s speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has expressed her shock at news that 85% of the country’s government health facilities lack latrines.
Kadaga was speaking at the Uganda Parliamentary Symposium on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene where the shocking statistics were unveiled.
“I’ve been shocked and saddened to learn that 85% of govt-owned health facilities lack latrines and proper sanitation. They should be shut down. They are causing and spreading more diseases than curing them!” Kadaga said.
The Parliamentary Forum on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PFWASH) was set up in 2012 to respond to water, sanitation and hygiene issues in the country.
Kadaga added, “Last year, we laboured to increase the national budget for water and sanitation. Unfortunately, it was vetoed by the Finance ministry. We shall continue the struggle.”
The Forum was created basing on the recommendation by WaterAid Uganda in 2012 after its study which looked at the role of Parliament in ensuring that citizens have access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene including policy making, policy regulation, budgeting, ensuring Government accountability and citizen representation.
The symposium was attended by a host of stakeholders.
The Forum was formed mainly to enable MPs from both political divide to freely interact with each other and with civil society and development partners around WASH issues.
