The African Development Bank and the Government of Uganda signed two separate agreements on 12 January to finance projects to improve health services delivery and access to water and sanitation in both urban and rural areas of Uganda, with a total investment of U.S.$ 155.8 million. This double deal is expected to boost the country's efforts to meet the 2015 Millennium Development Goals for health, water and sanitation.
Both projects are in line with Uganda's National Development Plan as well as the Bank's 2011-2015 priorities for inclusive growth in Uganda. The National Development Plan identifies the provision of improved health services as well as adequate water supply and improved sanitation as some of the key priority areas for promoting economic growth and reducing poverty.
"Investing in social and human development is crucial to economic growth" said. Mrs. Maria Kiwanuka, Minister for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development of Uganda. "So is the provision of adequate quantity and quality of water for all social and economic needs, to present and future generations."
Up to 2.4 million people in rural areas and small towns across Uganda should have improved access to water supply and sanitation by 2016 following African Development Bank approval of U.S.$ 67 million to finance the implementation of Uganda's Water and Sanitation Program. The project aligns with Uganda's national goal to increase access to water supply and sanitation services to achieve 100 percent coverage by 2035.
Furthermore, access to quality and affordable health care services for the Kampala and metropolitan area will be improved following the simultaneous signing of a project for the Improvement of service delivery at the Mulago Hospital and in the City of Kampala. Immediate project beneficiaries are estimated at 3 million people, the majority being women and children under 15 years of age. The project will be co-financed by the African Development Fund (U.S.$ 72.9 million) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (U.S.$ 15.9 million).
AfDB Vice-President, Sector Operations, Kamal Elkheshen, said: "AfDB and Uganda have partnered on several development areas including Water and Higher Education Science and Technology. AfDB will continue to work with the government of Uganda in its reform efforts in order to improve the economic and social wellbeing of the people of Uganda."
