STELLA T
Residents of Kazindiro Parish in Bugangari Sub-county, Rukungiri District, have raised concerns over the severe lack of access to clean water, which has caused significant hardships and risks in their daily lives.
Muramira Dennis, a resident of Katerampugu Village, says they struggle daily to find drinking water. He noted that the situation has led to health complications such as chest pain, while young girls are at risk of sexual violence as they walk long distances to fetch water. Women and children, in particular, are forced to trek for extended periods in search of safe drinking water due to the acute shortage.
He further revealed that the water crisis has fueled domestic violence, as some men—out of jealousy—assault their wives for returning home late, disregarding the long journey they endure to access water. He appealed to the government to urgently address the water shortage for the safety and well-being of the residents.
Kengongi Mauda, a local nurse with a clinic in the area, told our reporter that she spends 3,000 Ugandan shillings daily to buy clean water for domestic use. She explained that, in the past, residents collected water from nearby springs, streams, and rivers during the rainy season, but these sources have since dried up.
She further noted that the prolonged lack of access to clean water has left the community suffering, with cases of waterborne diseases becoming rampant. Many residents are forced to drink dirty water from valleys, often sharing these water sources with animals, which puts their health—especially that of patients—at great risk.
Mucunguzi Ronald, another resident, emphasized that the situation worsens during school periods, making it difficult for mothers to prepare their children in time due to the hours spent fetching water.
He added that the congestion at the few available water points is overwhelming. One particular water source serves over 300 people from four villages, forcing residents to queue for more than two hours. The fact that they share these water sources with animals further increases the risk of contracting waterborne diseases such as typhoid and diarrhea. He urged the authorities to intervene before the situation worsens.
Jaston Byamukama, the LC III Chairperson of Bugangari Sub-county, acknowledged the challenge, stating that several villages without clean water sources continue to rely on unsafe water from nearby dams and streams. However, he assured residents that plans are underway to establish new clean water sources in the sub-county to alleviate the crisis.
Attempts to reach officials from the Umbrella Project of Water, the body responsible for water supply in Bugangari Sub-county, were unsuccessful.
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