VANESSA A
Residents of Garuka Cell in Kyikarara Parish, Bwambara Subcounty, Rukungiri District are raising alarm over the escalating dangers and health complications they face in their search for water, as the region continues to suffer from a long-standing water crisis.
For many households in this rural community, the journey to access water is not just about distance—it’s about survival. They rely on contaminated water sources, including Ntungwa River and water holes inside the Queen Elizabeth National Park, often shared with wild animals.
Wilson Twebaze, the LC1 Chairperson of Garuka Cell, paints a grim picture. He says the residents have no access to clean and safe water, exposing them to constant health risks and dangerous encounters with wild animals.
“We have a lot of problems we’re struggling with, but water is the biggest. We fetch it from places where animals also drink, and many of us are constantly sick because of it.”
Twebaze also recounts the frequent disturbances by elephants every time locals try to collect water from the park, sometimes resulting in residents being chased or injured.
Phionah Orikyiriza, a mother and resident, echoes the concerns, describing the severe hardships families face—especially during the dry season.
“We walk long distances just to get unsafe water from the park, risking our lives. Only when it rains do we get temporary relief with rainwater, which is much cleaner.”
For others like Epaphurasi Tukwasibwe, who leads the local Boda Boda stage, the water crisis demands waking up as early as 3 a.m. to fetch water before animals contaminate it.
“We’ve adapted by waking very early to collect water before pigs and elephants enter it. But we’ve complained for long, and nothing has been done yet.”
The situation has created not only a public health crisis but a constant threat to human-wildlife conflict, as families share water sources with dangerous park animals.
Bwambara Subcounty LC3 Chairperson Chris Kagayano acknowledges the magnitude of the problem. He confirmed that water scarcity is affecting nearly the entire subcounty, but added that there is hope.
“We have promises from the Ministry of Water and Sewerage Corporation, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Fisheries Department to step in. If supported, the Kateramo Water Project could serve the whole of Bwambara.”
Until these interventions materialize, residents of Garuka Cell will continue facing the uphill battle of securing safe water—often at the cost of their health and safety.
