Equity Bank, Water.org partner to scale private sector financing for clean water access

October 30, 2025 in Companies, Finance, Land & Agriculture by Editor

Equity Bank Uganda has joined forces with international nonprofit Water.org to roll out an affordable financing model designed to expand access to clean water and sanitation across Uganda. The partnership, unveiled at Protea Hotel Kampala, brings together the private sector, government, and development partners to address one of Uganda’s most pressing development challenges—limited access to safe water and decent sanitation.

An estimated 24 million Ugandans still lack access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities, Catherine Psomgen, Equity Bank Uganda’s Director for Public Sector and Social Investment revealed during the launch event at Protea Kampala Hotel on October 29. Stakeholders say the new initiative demonstrates how private sector-led finance can complement public and donor funding to drive sustainable progress toward universal access.

Psomgen described the collaboration as “a bold step in our journey to transform lives and livelihoods through inclusive and sustainable financial solutions.”

The partnership builds on a successful model first introduced in Kenya in 2011, where Water.org and Equity Bank launched tailored lending products such as the Maji Loan and Jamii Safi Loan. Those programs have since enabled thousands of households and community groups to invest in safe water systems and improved sanitation.

A 2023 assessment identified Uganda as a country with high unmet demand for such financing, prompting the two partners to replicate the model locally. Under the new arrangement, Equity Bank Uganda will deploy its EquiGreen Loan portfolio to support water and sanitation initiatives for households, micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as community-based organizations.

The initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and Goal 13 (Climate Action). It also includes technical assistance from Water.org, staff capacity building at Equity Bank, and data-driven impact tracking to ensure measurable social outcomes.

“Access to clean water is not just a basic need; it is a foundation for health, productivity, and economic empowerment,” Ms. Psomgen said. “Through this partnership, we are not only financing water and sanitation; we are also financing dignity, health, and opportunity.”

Water.org’s Africa Regional Director, Francis Musinguzi, emphasized that water remains central to every aspect of development. “There is no project you can run that is not linked to water,” he said, noting that an estimated 68% of Ugandans still lack access to clean water. “To close this gap, Uganda requires about UGX 10 trillion annually. That is why Water.org sought the partnership of a financial institution to help finance solutions.”

Mr. Musinguzi added that sustainable financing, digital innovation, and strong local ecosystems are essential to expanding water networks and ensuring long-term impact.

Government officials welcomed the initiative. Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner for Water Resources at the Ministry of Water and Environment, revealed that the government is developing a national water investment program to expand access across the country. “Partnerships like this are key to ensuring that every Ugandan family can access safe water and dignified sanitation,” he said.

Yunia Musaazi, Executive Director of the Uganda Water and Sanitation NGO Network (UWASNET), also praised the partnership, calling it a model for sustainable financing in the WASH sector. She noted that Uganda loses an estimated UGX 6 trillion each year due to inadequate water and sanitation services — a cost that partnerships like this aim to reduce.

The Equity Bank–Water.org collaboration marks a new phase in private-sector engagement in Uganda’s water sector, positioning finance as a tool for inclusion, resilience, and economic transformation.