WaterKit provides tap water connections to urban and rural households on credit through its WaterKit Wallet digital financing platform, which offers zero-interest credit for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) products and services to vulnerable communities in Uganda .

How It Works

Digital Financing Model: The WaterKit Wallet functions as a neo-banking solution where users can save money and access credit specifically for water connections. Households can obtain tap water connections without paying any interest on the financing, removing the primary barrier of upfront capital costs .

Target Communities: The service prioritizes rural and refugee communities, indigenous groups, women, and marginalized populations. This focus ensures that those who would otherwise be excluded from traditional banking services can access clean piped water .

Flexible Repayment: Credit is repayable through mobile money integration, leveraging the widespread coverage of mobile banking technology across Uganda. This makes repayment accessible even in remote areas where formal banking infrastructure is absent .

Partnership Approach: WaterKit collaborates with rural community groups, including Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), farmer groups, self-help groups, and community SACCOs. These partnerships enable aggregated access to affordable financing options for water connections .

Impact and Sustainability

The tap water connection service contributes directly to water security (SDG 6). By enabling households to access clean water at home through affordable credit, WaterKit reduces dependence on depleting freshwater sources like swamps and improves sustainable environmental management .

The solution is designed to be scalable and replicable anywhere, using existing mobile money infrastructure to provide a digital identity and financial pathway for any vulnerable household seeking access to safe tap wate