Uganda’s “Water Umbrellas” model gains traction continent-wide

Background

• The Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) of Uganda has been promoting a model called Water Umbrellas — a centralized management approach for small town water supply systems.

• The idea is that multiple small water schemes within a region are managed collectively (under an “umbrella”) rather than independently, enabling economies of scale, shared expertise, and streamlined oversight.

What the Officials Report

• According to Eng. Herbert Nuwamanya, Assistant Commissioner for Urban Water & Sewerage, under this model:

  • Connection numbers and revenue collections have increased twenty-fold compared to previous decentralized systems.

  • The system is equipped with web-based monthly reporting across its scheme operations.

• The Water Umbrella programme was piloted in 2016, initially covering 600 schemes in small towns (populations 2,000–10,000).

• To date, it has expanded to over 1,200 water supply schemes under this collective umbrella arrangement.

• Under the model:

  • The umbrella authorities handle supply, maintenance, connections, marketing, and revenue collection.

  • The Ministry lays infrastructure, provides training, technology, and continues monitoring.

Regional Impact & Interest

• At the ongoing Africa Water and Sanitation (Afwasa) Congress & Exhibition 2025 in Kampala, many officials from other African countries expressed interest in replicating Uganda’s approach.

• Over 2,000 participants in attendance—ranging from water utility managers, ministers, UN agencies, to civil society—included the Water Umbrella initiative in their discussions.

Analysis & Considerations