Health officials in Busoga Sub-region have raised concern over persistent water-borne diseases, saying poor sanitation and inadequate access to safe water continue to contribute to preventable illnesses and deaths, particularly among children under five.
The concerns were raised during a stakeholder meeting organised by Jinja Regional Referral Hospital to discuss the role of community leaders in promoting improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices.
Dr Alfred Yayi, a senior executive consultant at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, urged political, religious, cultural and community leaders to intensify public awareness campaigns on hygiene and sanitation.
“We need community leaders to educate the public on the importance of safe water, proper sanitation and good hygiene practices. Their voices are respected and can help change behaviours that contribute to disease outbreaks,” Dr Yayi said.
Data presented at the meeting showed that diarrhoeal diseases remain a major public health challenge. According to the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH), diarrhoea accounted for about 10 percent of deaths among children under five in Uganda in 2022.
In Busoga, more than 40 percent of outpatient visits in 2023 were linked to WASH-related illnesses, including diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid.
Mr Joseph Oposhia of the Busoga Regional Emergency Operations Centre said several disease outbreaks reported in the region have been linked to poor sanitation and contaminated water sources.
He cited cases of cholera, viral conjunctivitis, mumps and food-borne illnesses reported in Jinja and Luuka districts in 2024, which investigations associated with the use of contaminated water from shared sources.
Mr Oposhia said open defecation remains common in some communities, particularly on islands in Namayingo District and parts of Jinja City, increasing the risk of disease transmission.
Jinja City Health Officer Dr Fredrick Isabirye said health authorities are also monitoring cases of schistosomiasis, commonly known as bilharzia, in Kisima I and Kisima II islands and neighbouring communities along the shores of Lake Victoria.
More than 100 stool samples have been collected for laboratory testing to confirm infections and guide treatment, he said.
“The parasite enters through the skin when a person comes into contact with infested water and, if left untreated, can cause severe complications,” Dr Isabirye said.
Assistant Resident City Commissioner Paul Balidawa called on local leaders to enforce hygiene measures at household level, including regular handwashing, proper waste disposal and protection of water sources.
He also urged residents to boil drinking water to reduce the risk of infection.
Health officials warned that inadequate investment in water infrastructure, sanitation facilities and public awareness programmes continues to undermine efforts to control preventable diseases across the region.
According to available data, safe water coverage in Busoga remains below 65 percent, compared with the national target of 85 percent. Sanitation coverage is estimated at below 50 percent in several districts, while about 30 percent of households lack access to improved sanitation facilities and handwashing stations.
A 2021 Ministry of Health assessment further found that only 38 percent of health facilities in the region had an on-site basic water supply, while fewer than 25 percent had functional handwashing facilities at points of care.