Equity Bank partners with Water.org to expand affordable financing for clean water in Uganda
Kampala,Uganda
Equity Bank Uganda has signed a partnership with Water.org to roll out affordable financing products aimed at increasing household and small-business access to safe water and sanitation, officials said at a Kampala launch on Wednesday.
The agreement, announced at a Protea Hotel event, will deploy Equity’s EquiGreen loan portfolio alongside technical support from Water.org to finance WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) investments for households, micro and small enterprises, and community organisations. The program includes staff capacity building and data-driven monitoring to track social outcomes.
Speakers highlighted the size of the challenge: Water.org and partners estimate millions of Ugandans still lack safe water and that private finance will be necessary to close the gap. Equity Bank’s public-sector and social investment director said the products will be tailored to smaller ticket sizes common in rural water and sanitation projects, with flexible repayment terms.
Water.org Africa Regional Director noted that water is a foundational enabler — without reliable water, businesses, schools and health services cannot thrive. The partnership aims to combine commercial banking discipline with concessional technical assistance to make projects bankable. Analysts say the success of such models depends on risk-sharing features and support for after-sales service networks.
Implications: If the program scales, it could unlock substantial private capital for Uganda’s WASH sector, reduce reliance on grants, and create a pipeline of investable projects across the country — including in regions targeted by national supply plans like Karamoja.
