The event highlighted specific aspects of freshwater to ensure that the year 2015 provides an important opportunity to consolidate and build upon the previous world water days to highlight water’s role in the sustainable development agenda.
Honorable Ephraim Kamuntu, the Ugandan Minister of Water and Environment who was the guest of honor stressed the importance and centrality of water as a basic necessity for the human life.
He highlighted the need to prioritize water in all sectors and change people’s mindsets as some still consider water as an infinite and granted resource. This can be done both at individual level, household as well as institutional level and government.
Referring to this year’s theme, the Minister pointed out that Water is at the center of every development agenda across sectors: agriculture, fishing, tourism, health, industry, environment, etc… He reiterated the government’s commitment to increase people’s access to clean water, especially in rural areas where 35 percent still walk more than one kilometer to get to the source of water.
Other side activities were also organized; these included awareness campaigns for cleaning public spaces as well as an exhibition that enabled various stakeholders to showcase their activities, innovations and publications. GWP Eastern Africa held also a stand and shared its vision and publications with different visitors, including the Minister himself.