Equity Bank Uganda partners with Water.org to extend affordable financing to clean water & Sanitation.

According to the 2023 needs assessment report, it showed strong clean water and sanitation access demand in Uganda. As part of the contribution to address this crucial challenge, Equity Bank Uganda has partnered with Water.org –a global non-profit organization working to bring water to communities to  support the expansion of this initiative to the local communities in Uganda.

The partnership will enable Equity Bank to expand access to affordable financing for clean water & sanitation, strengthen its green finance portfolio and build staff expertise and capacity in WASH finance

The signing ceremony that took place on Tuesday 29^th October 2025, at Protea Hotel by Marriott Kampala follows a successful 5 year partnership in Kenya where Equity introduced innovative loans like Maji Loan and Jamii Safi Loan, enabling households and communities to access clean, safe water and sanitation services.

While launching this partnership Catherine Psomgen, Director Public Sector and Social Investments at Equity Bank, and Francis Musinguzi, Regional Manager Africa at Water.org, inked  the agrrement to formalize the relationship between Equity Bank and http://Water.org.

In her remarks Catherine Psomgen from  Equity Bank Uganda said that the  collaboration will build on a successful model first implemented in Kenya in 2011, where thousands were able to access clean water and improved sanitation after it joining hands with Water.org to create innovative water and sanitation financing solutions.

“Through this partnership, Equity will use the EquiGreen Loan to help households, schools and community groups access safe water and better sanitation” she said

Meanwhile Francis Musinguzi reaffirmed Water.org’s commitment to unlocking financing solutions that empower enterprises, strengthen financial systems and ensure every household and business has access to safe water.

He mentioned how glad he is for the partnership since 2011, now that the banking population has grown from 21% to 42% with innovations in the digital investment space.

Through a program called Water Credit,  partnership allows allows families and organisations  to access financing for solutions such as rainwater harvesting tanks, water connections, and toilets, improving health and living standards with recent highlights indicating  the impact of these loans, showing a significant number of Equity Bank loans being used for water and sanitation purposes.

A study conducted by Water.org on undifferentiated digital loans from Equity Bank found that over 21,000 loans were used for water and sanitation products and services, demonstrating a significant latent demand. The study suggests that digital credit can help make water and sanitation lending mainstream.