Simpson Muyambi
Rukungiri Residents have been urged to harvest and conserve rainwater to complement tap water during the forthcoming rainy season.
The call was made by Byarugaba Micheal the Rukungiri district secretary for production, marketing, and natural resources.
He said rainwater harvesting is not a new phenomenon and that most people do it on a smaller scale using rudimentary methods.
Water harvesting is not only for those with water harvesting dams but also people can use their small tanks at home and can reserve water for home and agricultural use in case rain stops.
He added that apparently, at least 60% of people in western Uganda have iron sheet roofed houses where they can use gutters to collect rainwater in large amounts. This also helps to reduce the amount of water splashing into roads which ends up destroying them.
Micheal said that in less than four months, it’s suspected that rain will have reduced and so urged people to at least use this chance to plant fast-growing crops especially beans, maize, and Irish potatoes among others so that by the time of the dry season, they are well equipped with foodstuff.
He urged people especially those who live in low-lying areas to use good planting methods if they are to avoid landslides and floods, and requested them to remain on high alert during this rainy season.
