As Uganda joins the world in celebrating International World Toilet Day, authorities in Kisoro Municipality have expressed concerns about the low levels of sanitation and toilet facilities, warning that this could lead to the spread of diseases.
World Toilet Day 2024 is being celebrated under the theme “Making Sanitation Work for Everyone.” According to 2024 health statistics, 69% of households in Kisoro District have flushable, washable floor, and traditional quality toilets, while only 38.4% have handwashing facilities. In Kisoro Municipality, 85% of households have toilets, but only 43% have improved sanitation facilities.
Kisoro Municipality Health Inspector, Acar Moses, voiced his concerns about the limited number of toilets and washing facilities, which could lead to the rapid transmission of diseases, especially during the rainy season. Acar further accused political leaders in Kisoro District of defending community members who violate health guidelines and regulations.
He stated, “Politicians in Kisoro are always supporting the victims arrested for violating health guidelines, but these politicians also have the same immunity as the natives. In case of a disease outbreak, they will also be affected. One household can lead to a cholera outbreak affecting the entire community.”
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Kisoro LC Chairpersons Association, who also serves as the LC1 Chairperson of Karumena Village in Kisoro Municipality, urged residents to embrace health guidelines as the best way to prevent disease outbreaks. Daudi Lain emphasized, “I am calling upon community members to embrace health guidelines, such as ensuring every household has a toilet, washing your hands, and drinking boiled water, so we can control the spread of diseases.”
Daudi Lain further pointed out that it is the responsibility of politicians to advocate for the rights of their constituents. He noted that supporting individuals arrested for violating health regulations is part of their role as politicians.
Globally, 3.6 billion people (approximately 46% of the population) live without access to safely managed sanitation services (UNICEF & WHO, 2023). Furthermore, 494 million people still practice open defecation, and approximately 4.2 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed sanitation facilities.
