Kabarole registers 94% sanitation coverage as leaders rally for improved community health
“This progress in sanitation is closely linked to our broader goal of strengthening community health systems.”
Kabarole: Kabarole District has recorded significant progress in community health, with sanitation coverage now standing at an impressive 94 percent, a milestone local leaders say reflects sustained efforts to improve hygiene and health service delivery across the district.
Kabarole District Chairperson Dr. Richard Rwabuhinga attributed the achievement to deliberate investments in the health sector and intensified community sensitisation on sanitation and hygiene practices.
Speaking during the National Sanitation Week celebrations held on Thursday at Kiburara Primary School, Rwabuhinga said the district has prioritised upgrading health facilities to improve access to quality care.
“We have upgraded various Health Centre IIs to Health Centre IIIs to bring services closer to our people and enhance service delivery,” he said. “This progress in sanitation is closely linked to our broader goal of strengthening community health systems.”
He urged household heads to ensure their homes meet basic health standards, including the construction of standard latrines and maintaining proper hygiene facilities.
The State Minister for Health in charge of Primary Health Care, Margaret Muhanga Mugisa, emphasised that many common illnesses can be prevented through proper sanitation and hygiene.
“Diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, malaria, and typhoid are largely preventable if communities maintain good sanitation and hygiene practices,” Muhanga noted. “The burden of these diseases affects not only health but also household incomes and livelihoods.”
She called on communities to adopt simple but effective practices such as using standard pit latrines, regular handwashing, and clearing bushes around homes to reduce disease risks.
Muhanga, however, cautioned that despite the progress made, challenges such as open defecation and the use of substandard latrines persist in some parts of the country. She encouraged households to maintain clean environments, including proper disposal of waste like plastic bottles.
“We must use this national celebration as an opportunity to renew our commitment to sanitation and hygiene,” she said.
Deputy Resident District Commissioner Jane Benuza urged families to work together in maintaining clean homes, calling on women to prioritise household cleanliness and men to take responsibility for constructing proper sanitation facilities.
“Good hygiene begins at home and contributes to happy and healthy families,” she said.
Meanwhile, Kabarole Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Arthur Hakiza asked residents to reflect on the national theme, “Accelerating Safely Managed Sanitation for a Healthier Uganda,” and translate it into action at the household level.
He emphasised that improved sanitation and hygiene practices are key to sustaining the district’s gains in public health.
The National Sanitation Week celebrations brought together local leaders, health officials, and community members, all united in advancing the sanitation agenda and promoting healthier living standards across Kabarole District.
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