Where Water Flows, Opportunity Grows: How Nature Can Drive Inclusion and Prosperity in Uganda

Women coming back from tending their gardens (Photo: UCSD)

Just before sunrise in Kasese District, Sarah Kiiza walks nearly three kilometres to collect water for her family. For years, this journey has been part of her daily routine. The time spent fetching water often meant fewer hours tending her garden of diverse crops and little chance to expand her small roadside produce business. But recently, a community-managed solar-powered water system was installed nearby. Today, Sarah spends less time searching for water and more time growing vegetables, potatoes and cassava that she sells at the local market, increasing her household income and helping pay school fees for her children.

Sarah’s story reflects a broader truth across Uganda and many developing countries: water and the environment are not just natural resources — they are pathways to inclusion, dignity, and prosperity.

Across rural Uganda, agriculture remains the backbone of livelihoods. Yet unpredictable rainfall and prolonged droughts continue to threaten food production. In districts such as Nakasongola and Karamoja, farmers are increasingly adopting rainwater harvesting and small-scale irrigation supported by local cooperatives and development programmes. These solutions allow farmers to grow crops throughout the year, improving household nutrition and stabilising incomes. When communities have reliable access to water, they move from survival farming to enterprise farming, unlocking economic opportunities.

Water ecosystems also support livelihoods beyond agriculture. Along the shores of Lake Victoria, fishing communities depend on the lake for income and food security. However, declining fish stocks and environmental degradation have threatened these livelihoods. In response, some communities are embracing sustainable fishing practices and aquaculture. In Wakiso District, youth groups are investing in fish farming, creating jobs while reducing pressure on natural fish populations. These initiatives demonstrate how environmental stewardship can directly translate into economic growth.

Beyond livelihoods, access to clean water and healthy environments transforms social wellbeing. In many communities, girls often miss school because they must fetch water or suffer from water-related illnesses. When safe water sources are brought closer to communities, school attendance improves, especially among girls. Health centres also benefit from a reliable water supply, improving hygiene and patient care. These changes enhance human capital development along the entire lifecycle, for long-term national development as clearly expounded in Uganda’s National Development Plan (NDP IV).

Inclusion becomes even more powerful when environmental programmes deliberately empower marginalised groups. Women across Uganda are increasingly participating in water user committees and local conservation groups. In Eastern Uganda, women-led wetland restoration initiatives are helping to restore degraded ecosystems while generating income through sustainable harvesting of papyrus and eco-friendly crafts. At the same time, communities are rediscovering indigenous knowledge that has long guided environmental conservation. Traditional wetland protection practices, once overlooked, are now recognised as valuable tools for sustainable resource management.

Uganda also faces growing climate risks, including floods and droughts that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. Restoring wetlands and protecting watersheds helps reduce flood risks, improve water storage, and protect hydropower generation that supports the national grid power. In rapidly growing urban areas like Kampala, green infrastructure such as restored drainage channels and urban tree planting helps reduce flooding and improve living conditions for low-income residents.

The connection between water, environment, and prosperity is clear. When communities are given a voice in managing natural resources, they become stewards of sustainability and drivers of economic transformation. Investments in water and environmental protection do more than conserve nature; they create jobs, improve health, strengthen education, and build climate resilience.

As we gear up for the Uganda Water and Environment 2026, the path forward lies in treating water and the environment not as challenges to be managed, but as opportunities to be nurtured. Where water flows sustainably, opportunity grows — for families like Sarah’s and for the nation as a whole.