UBOS Raises Alarm Over Contaminated Drinking Water as Uganda Prepares to Mark African Statistics Day

The Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) has Thursday, raised concern over the risk of waterborne diseases arising from contaminated drinking water, despite increased access to improved water sources across the country.

According to findings from the 2022 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey, approximately 89 per cent of households were at risk of waterborne diseases due to contaminated drinking water, with rural households accounting for the highest proportion at 93 per cent.

The concern was raised by the Deputy Executive Director of UBOS, Dr. Vincent Fred Ssenono, who represented the Executive Director, Dr. Chris Mukiza, during a media briefing ahead of the African Statistics Day celebrations scheduled for November 18, 2026.

Ssenono emphasised the need to use reliable statistics to identify communities at risk, improve water and sanitation services and guide government investment in climate-resilient development.

He noted that access to a water source does not necessarily guarantee that the water consumed by households is safe, pointing to contamination as an equally important challenge requiring targeted interventions.

The concerns come ahead of Uganda's commemoration of African Statistics Day on November 18, 2026, under the theme, "Institutionalising Water and Sanitation Statistics for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Development in Africa."

The national commemoration will feature a series of activities and high-level dialogue running from November 12 to 19, bringing together stakeholders to examine how statistics can support evidence-based planning and sustainable development.

UBOS officials say reliable data can help government and local authorities identify communities without dependable water and sanitation services, determine where investments are most urgently needed and assess whether public interventions are benefiting the intended populations.

The Bureau also highlighted its collaboration with local governments in developing a local government application that enables districts to access information about different water sources within their jurisdictions.

Through georeferencing, water sources have been digitally mapped to enable authorities to identify their locations and improve planning, monitoring and service delivery.

The initiative is expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, particularly in identifying underserved communities and directing resources towards areas facing water and sanitation challenges.

As part of the commemorative programme, UBOS held a media briefing and announced the 2026 theme on November 12.

On November 13, the Bureau is scheduled to launch the Fourth Plan for National Statistical Development, alongside the UBOS Service Delivery Standards for 2025–2026 and the National Statistical Development Plan covering 2026/2027 to 2029/2030.

A seminar for statistics professionals will follow on November 16, focusing on strengthening the role of statistical practitioners in generating information required for policy formulation and national development.

On November 17, UBOS will organise a students' symposium and sports gala aimed at engaging young people pursuing statistical studies.

The symposium is intended to expose students to the practical importance of statistics, particularly how the information they generate and analyse informs government policies, planning and resource allocation.

The activities will culminate in the African Statistics Day commemoration on November 18, with the broader programme expected to conclude on November 19.

The observance comes at a time when African countries are increasingly challenged to strengthen climate resilience, improve access to essential services and ensure that development decisions are guided by accurate and timely data.

For Uganda, the water contamination findings underline the importance of looking beyond the availability of water sources to examine the quality, safety and reliability of water reaching households.