Foreword from Chairman - UWASNET Executive Committee/Management Board

Welcome to the Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network Website!

The formation of UWASNET in 2000 by Government of Uganda, Development Partners and NGOs has increasingly yielded positive results not only to the sector but the entire country. Government and other Development Partners have continued to value and recognize the contributions and achievements of UWASNET and its critical role in the Sector.

NGOs and CBOs have persistently contributed toward rising Sector investments by increasing access to safe water and improved sanitation. For example in the year 2006 alone,   the total investment by the 84 NGO/CBOs that submitted reports was UGX 34.2 billion (US$20.1 million) Out of the total NGOs/CBOs investment; members of UWASNET (65 NGOs/CBOs) contributed UGX 9.7 billion and WASH Cluster members UGX 24.4 billion (US$14.4 million). This is 6 times more than what was reported in 2005. (UGX 5.7 billion) largely because of the increased number of local and international NGOs/CBOs that submitted reports. A comparative analysis of the total NGOs/CBOs and Government contribution shows that the NGOs/CBOs that reported contributed an amount equivalent to 79% of the total District Water and Sanitation Conditional Grant (UGX 40.5billion) in the FY 2006/07.

To achieve sector goals; Government of Uganda’s framework on Poverty alleviation, the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) was put in place to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Therefore, there is a need to complement and supplement Government’s efforts towards the realisation of the MDGs in form of technical advice, financial support and mobilisation of other players for the Water and Sanitation cause.

In this technological era, information has become so diverse and sophisticated and accessing it remains a key aspect of development. Dissemination of information in today’s world needs a rather more robust and dynamic method of communication. Websites have become a more efficient and effective channel of accessing information. It’s therefore, fitting for UWASNET to present to you a Website that will provide and continue making available information on activities, projects and programmes of Water and Sanitation NGOs and CBOs as well as Sector issues in Uganda.

I hope you enjoy the content.

Tim Fowler