MBARARA RESIDENTS GRAPPLE WITH UNSAFE WATER AS DRY SEASON BITES

By Twesigye Aggrey

MBARARA

Two parishes in Mbarara district are grappling with the effects of unsafe water

The affected parishes include Itaara and Ruhunga parishes all in Rubaya Sub county , Mbarara District.

Steven Nkuba the chairman  Geitemba cell in Ruhunga parish says  they have  one borehole which serves three  cells of Geitemba,Nyakibungo and Keigoshoro all in Ruhunga parish.

He adds that during this dry spell that started early May this year , Residents have only remained with one option of Sharing  same water with animals as their borehole dried up.

Nkuba further says as one way of restoring their borehole they agreed that every family contributes  shs.3000 towards the borehole but the members of the community are yet to pay.

Benon Kanyankole the chairman Ekyeera 2 cell in Itaara parish , Rubaya Sub county says his cell has one borehole that serves four cells of Ekyeera 2,Katete, Ekyeera 3, and Ekiyayu cells all in Itaara parish.

Kanyankole adds that  due to a long  dry spell this region has experienced ,farmers in his cell have continued to count losses as their crops have dried up.

He adds due to scarcity of water in the area  , people have now started fetching water from dams which might pose health problems to their lives.

Richard Taremwa a Councillor representing Ruhunga sub county parish called for strict laws against those who be implicated of vandalizing the rehabilitated boreholes.

Rugaju Tumwebaze a councillor representing Itaara Parish who also doubles as the secretary for finance at Rubaya sub county commended Loydah Twinomujuni for her efforts to have all the boreholes rehabilitated in Rubaya sub county.

However as one way of mitigation water problems in the two parishes ,Loydah Twinomujuni Muhimbura  the lady  Councillor representing Rubaya Sub county at Mbarara district  has today (Monday) provided support to two affected  parishes by repairing all the boreholes that had dried up.

Meeting locals from the affected  parishes of Itaara and Ruhunga ,Loydah  sensitised them to provide a small incentive to look after boreholes in the area.

Twinomujuni  further committed support to the entire sub county to ensure all the people access clean water ,as she has already lobbied machines to drill piped water that will be used for irrigation.