Uganda: 11 million lack latrines

Speaking at the opening of a two-day sanitation workshop at Mt. Elgon Hotel in Mbale town,  state minister for water, Jennifer Namuyangu, urged the public to practice hygiene and proper sanitation in order to control diseases.

According to the health ministry statistics, about 11.2 million people in the country do not have latrines.

Namuyangu said safe water and sanitation issues are not only about disease prevention, but also human dignity. “Easing yourself in the bushes could lead to contracting diseases and even sexual harassment,” she warned.

[...]

The Mbale district chairman, Bernard Mujasi, said enforcing sanitation laws in homes had not succeded because the village leaders were preferred to the district leaders. Mujasi said in the 1960s and 70s, latrine coverage in the country was over 90% because chiefs had powers to enforce sanitation laws in the communities, unlike today where LC officials just watch the bad situation because they fear to lose their positions during elections.

Source: Joseph Wanzusi, New Vision, 25 Sep 2008

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