“When you have no water, it means you have no peace”: A mixed-method, whole-population study of water insecurity and depression in rural Uganda

•Water insecurity had a strong, robust significant association with depression.•The estimated association was stronger among men than among women.•In the qualitative data, bother emerged as the main determinant of water insecurity.•Gendered constraints limited women's ability to adapt to water insecurity.•Choice-less-ness and social problems produced emotional distress, depression, and rumination.