Umuwa is a service centre for the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. Anangu Pitjantjatjara was formed in 1981 in order to bring the governance of the Lands to Umuwa from Alice Springs. Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara has an Executive Board of ten members.
Umuwa was built in 1991 to house the administration and services infrastructure. There are a number of non-government agencies that operate from Umuwa. AP Services, a separately incorporated body, looks after some roads and some municipal services. Nganampa Health is a community controlled health service. PY Media is well positioned to provide not only daily radio programming, but video, multi media and interactive services, information delivery and media education for all communities and for all agencies on the Lands. The NPY Women's Council also has an office working from Umuwa.
There is a signigicant State government presence with residential accommodation for Police, Housing, Corrections and Families and Communities staff working on the APY Lands.
Community services in Umuwa are very limited. There is a public phone and diesel fuel can be purchased from Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara. A mail plane arrives on Thursdays and provides a limited passenger and freight service.
The nearest stores are at Pukatja (Ernabella) 25 kms north and Kaltjiti (Fregon) 35 km south.