IISD/Earth Negotiations Bulletin

Maria Mutagamba has led the charge in countless delegations and regional and international conferences in hopes of bringing sanitation and water into the global spotlight.

Mutagamba has found success as a leader in projects such as the WaSH campaign (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene). Mutagamba also strives to improve school attendance rates by increasing government support for sanitation facilities and running water at schools throughout Uganda. According to Mutagamba, donors typically shy away from making contributions for toilets and other sanitation-related programs, but she has managed to turn an unglamorous issue into one of worldwide importance.

Born in the Gamba-Kakuuto-Rakai district of Uganda, Mutagamba received her college degree from Makerere University, Uganda's largest university and alma mater of numerous African heads of state. She began her professional career as a research officer for the Bank of Uganda.