Rukungiri – Acute water crisis has hit over 8000 families in Rukungiri district putting the lives of residents at risk of poor hygiene and sanitation as well as their associated effects.
The most affected families are from the sub- counties of Nyarushanja , Nyakishenyi ,all in Rubabo county in Rukungiri district.The above families are facing a serious water scarcity crisis that is now threatening their public health and overall well-being and they now struggle to access clean and safe water in their area.
Ms Kyomukama Ketty, 56 , a mother of 5 and a resident of Kyaruhotora Cell in Nyarushanja sub- county said ” they have spent weeks without access to clean water.”.
” Our children are equally affected while at school because schools in our area also have no access to clean and safe water for human consumption exposing them to several health risks”.
Ms Kyomukama saidMr Tumwesigye Alex, a resident of Nyarushanje Sub County said his community has now spent over 30 years without clean water.
” The situation has left us with no choice but to rely on unsafe sources such as streams, ponds, and unprotected wells”. Mr Tumwesigye said.
Mr Tumwesigye now wants the government to urgently intervene and address the water scarcity crisis.
Ms Justine Mbabazi, 56, a mother of 4 and a resident of Kahoko parish in Nyakishenyi sub- county revealed that they started experiencing the challenge of water shortage early this year, forcing the residents to resort to usage of contaminated water from unprotected water sources.
” Am so skeptical that we might be hit by diseases such as typhoid because we have no access to clean water. It’s like we are not Ugandans, we hear people in other parts of the district are accessing clean and safe water . Am therefore asking the government to think about us because we also pay taxes like other Ugandans”. Ms Mbabazi said.
The Nyarushanje Sub County chairperson Mr Musiime Michael attributed the water scarcity to rampant environmental degradation in the area.
” Residents have seriously destroyed wetlands which act as sources of water. As a government we have tried our level best to sensitize locals on dangers of destroying wetlands and I hope residents will embrace environmental protection”. Mr Musiime said.
He however re-assured residents that the government has already launched a solar-powered water project in Kalama, Bunono Parish, which is currently under construction.
”Within 3 months, the project is expected to start supplying water to Bwanga Parish and the entire Nyarushanje Sub County”. Mr Musiime added.
The Nyakishenyi sub- county lc3 chairperson Mr Wednesday Twinomunjuni,is worried that the crisis may bring a lot of challenges to the community .
” Am so worried about this crisis if not addressed it is likely to bring more harm to the community because water is life and without it life becomes hard”. Mr Twinomunjuni said.
The Rukungiri District Water Officer Mr Deus Twekwase attributed the prevailing water crisis in some areas to the residents who fail to maintain water sources government constructs for them.
” The capacity of water coverage in Urban areas is equivalent to 92% whereas 84 %. Rural areas should sustain the population noting that the crisis is brought about by the failure to maintain water sources and pay bills among other challenges”. Mr Twekwase said.
He also cautioned the public against vandalizing water equipment and misusing water .
District water coverage.
Water access in Rukungiri is at 79%. The district has 2,315 domestic water points, serving a total of 282,687 people, with 269,767 of them in rural areas. According to Mr Twekwase, the district also has two piped water schemes.
