RUKIGA: RWAMUCUCU RESIDENTS LACK WATER SOURCES, WORRIED OVER DISEASES

By Grant Ahumuza

www.mknewslink.com

In Rukiga

Residents of Kahunyira and Mbogo Villages, Rwamucucu Sub-county in Rukiga district are exposed to diseases due to lack of water sources.

More than 838 residents of the two villages trek about 5 km to collect water from rocks and swamps for the past 5 years due to lack of boreholes.

The residents say they have never tasted borehole water despite several pleas to the authorities, including the District Chairperson Mr. Alex Kampikaho, President Museveni, to drill boreholes in the district.

Ms Allen Kyarikunda, a resident, says that they have also been drawing water from swamps but the severe drought has dried up the swamps as well.

According to Hilder Teriyitu the Village Health Team (VHT) coordinator, they share water sources with animals which exposes them to diseases such as cholera.

Roy Kyarimpa who has been affected by typhoid faults the district authorities for failing to provide clean water yet they pay taxes.

She also accuses the district leaders of ignoring water and sanitation issues and concentrating on political matters.

Mr Habasa Robert, the area chairperson one, says human waste and cow dung flows into the rock during rainy seasons, worsening the situation and he adds that they would have no reason for alarm (about boreholes), but the practice of open defecation is worrying them.

So far Out of 45 million ugshs, assigned for the work a total of 39000ugsh has been collected from well-wishers to renovate the borehole.

In 2015, while campaigning in Rukiga district, President Museveni said the government was committed to providing three boreholes per village in the district.

According to the Local Government Budget Framework Paper of 2018/2019, the water and environment department in the district intended to prioritise the construction of water sources (protected springs, shallow wells, boreholes, piped water supply system, communal water harvesting systems and public toilets as well as rehabilitation of the water sources.

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