Uganda and France have signed a US $81 million financing agreement to expand water and sanitation infrastructure in Isingiro District, in a move aimed at improving access to reliable water services in the southwestern region.
The financing, provided through the French Development Agency (AFD), will support the development and expansion of water supply systems across 15 sub-counties and eight town councils in the district. The agreement was signed by Uganda’s Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and French Ambassador to Uganda Jules-Armand Aniambossou, strengthening bilateral cooperation in infrastructure and public services.
The investment is expected to increase the availability of safe water while extending distribution networks to communities that remain underserved by existing infrastructure. Improved water access is also expected to support sanitation, public health and local economic activity in the rapidly growing district.
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Challenges in Isingiro
Isingiro has experienced increasing pressure on water resources as population growth and the presence of refugee and host communities raise demand for basic services. Expanding water infrastructure is therefore seen as critical to reducing reliance on distant or unreliable water sources. The project adds to France’s broader involvement in Uganda’s water sector through AFD, which has financed projects aimed at increasing water production, improving distribution networks and strengthening the capacity of water utilities.
French development financing has also supported major water infrastructure in the Greater Kampala area, including investments designed to improve the supply and distribution of treated water to a growing urban population. For Uganda, the Isingiro project forms part of wider efforts to increase investment in water and sanitation infrastructure as urbanisation, population growth and climate pressures place additional demands on existing systems.
The new financing is expected to provide the resources needed to develop water infrastructure in areas where access remains limited, while supporting the government’s objective of expanding safe and sustainable water services. The agreement also highlights the role of international development partners in helping Uganda finance capital-intensive infrastructure projects, particularly in sectors where public investment needs continue to rise.
