To acknowledge and enhance the accomplishments within the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, the Uganda Water and Sanitation Network (UWASNET) has introduced the Uganda WASH Impact and Influence Awards.
The inventiveness was unveiled during the 14th Annual WASH Forum for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), which took place at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala.
The three day event brought together stakeholders to deliberate on critical issues and innovations affecting Uganda’s WASH sector.
The purpose of these awards is to honor exceptional contributions made by individuals and organizations committed to advancing water and sanitation conditions throughout the country, and motivate others.
During the launch, Alfred Okidi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Environment, emphasized that these awards represent a recognition of excellence, innovation, and the impact of the WASH sector in Uganda.
He stated, “The awards aim to inspire even greater achievements and foster a spirit of healthy competition and continuous improvement within the sector.”
Okidi expressed that this initiative will enable the recognition of individuals and organizations that have distinguished themselves in advancing the WASH program.
“It is through such initiatives that we celebrate the tremendous efforts and achievements that your various organizations have made, and also individuals who have sacrificed their time and gone beyond delivering the normal services of WASH,” he added.
He urged all sector players to perceive these awards as a means of recognition, but as a call to action to scale up their efforts.
Okidi emphasized the inclusion of a special category to recognize youth-led innovations.
“As I mentioned, the biggest constituency, the youth should be considered, especially those involved with WASH in our educational institutions,” he added
He restated the Ministry of Water and Environment’s commitment towards their collaborative efforts with all the stakeholders.
“The journey towards achieving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene services is long, but with sustained partnership, political will and adequate resources allocation, I’m confident we will succeed,” he added.
The Uganda WASH Impact and Influence Awards will feature five distinct categories: Policy Influence, Research and Innovation, Youth, Academia, and Media, along with a posthumous award.
These awards will be held annually, with the first ceremony scheduled for June 2025. Nominations are set to commence this October.
Yunia Musazi, the executive director of UWASNET, stated that it is essential for civil society to recognize and celebrate those who excel and support their programs.
She stressed that the recognition should extend beyond civil society to encompass academia, the private sector, and government entities.
She believes that such collaborations will enhance and advance the collective contributions of all stakeholders.
“Looking forward and hoping that everyone, you’re going to merge hands to make sure that we ably recognize the good work that you’re doing, the innovations that you’re doing, whatever contribution, whether it’s research or good technology, or impact and not only civil society, but the academia, private sector and also government,” she noted.
Martin Kityo, the liaison connection manager at UWASNET, indicated that there will be regional launches for the awards throughout the country.
He expressed optimism that when the nomination period begins, they will attract submissions from a wide array of stakeholders.
“We shall be having a panel of judges that will scrutinize these submissions, and then, we shall be able to award these people,” he said.
Kityo explained that that process begins this month, but will be implemented in a phased approach.
“These awards are going to be celebrated annually, starting 2025 around June, when we shall be giving out the first awards or holding the first awards ceremony. But of course, the process is going to start from October. We shall be having five phases for the wash awards,” he noted.
“Now that we’re done with the launch, we shall be having a call for nominations. We shall be having the specialization processes, the vetting processes, and then the awarding ceremony,” He noted.
In rural areas, only 67% of the population has access to clean water and sanitation.
According to the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, this decrease from 69% is attributed to the rapidly growing population.
Kityo underscored the critical need for close collaboration across sectors to address challenges of WASH.
