Stakeholders from government, development agencies, and the private sector convened at the Protea Hotel in Kampala to witness the launch of a transformative partnership between Equity Bank Uganda and Water.org, aimed at accelerating access to clean water and improved sanitation across the country.
Speaking at the event, Catherine Psomgen, Director of Public Sector and Social Investment at Equity Bank Uganda, described the collaboration as “a bold step in our journey to transform lives and livelihoods through inclusive and sustainable financial solutions.”
She noted that the initiative builds on a successful partnership that began in 2011 between Water.org and Equity Bank Kenya, which pioneered innovative financing models such as the Maji Loan and Jamii Safi Loan—enabling thousands of households and communities to access safe water and improved sanitation. Following that success, a 2023 assessment identified Uganda as a country with significant unmet demand for water and sanitation financing.
“The partnership therefore seeks to introduce affordable and accessible financial products tailored for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector—an effort that aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and *SDG 13 (Climate Action),” said Ms Psomgen.
Under the collaboration, Equity Bank Uganda will deploy its EquiGreen Loan portfolio to finance water and sanitation initiatives for households, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as community-based organisations. The program will also provide capacity building for bank staff, technical assistance from Water.org, and data-driven impact monitoring to ensure measurable social outcomes.
“Access to clean water is not just a basic need—it is the foundation for health, productivity, and economic empowerment,” Ms Psomgen emphasised. “Through partnership, we are not only financing water and sanitation; we are financing dignity, health, and opportunity.”
Francis Musinguzi, Africa Regional Director at Water.org, underscored the vital link between water access and sustainable development. “Water is not only a social service—it is a primary driver of development. There is no project you can run that is not linked to water,”* Musinguzi noted. He highlighted that 68% of Ugandans still lack access to clean water, and bridging this gap requires an estimated UGX 10 trillion annually. “That is why Water.org sought the partnership of a financial institution to help finance local solutions,” he added.
Musinguzi further emphasised that sustainable financing, digital innovation, and strong local ecosystems are critical to expanding water access and ensuring long-term impact.
Representing the government, Dr Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner for Water Resources at the Ministry of Water and Environment, commended the initiative, revealing that the government is developing a National Water Investment Program to expand access nationwide.
“Partnerships like this are key to ensuring that every Ugandan family can access safe water and dignified sanitation—this is a vision we share with the government,” said Dr Tindimugaya.
Yunia Musazi, Executive Director of UWASANET, praised the collaboration as a model for sustainable financing in Uganda’s WASH sector. She noted that the country loses an estimated UGX 6 trillion annually due to inadequate water and sanitation services, calling the new partnership “a timely and practical intervention” to bridge financing and infrastructure gaps.