NELSON K
Tension is high in Katonya Cell, Rushasha Parish, Nyakagyeme Subcounty, Rukungiri District, after residents spent more than two weeks without clean water flowing from their taps, despite consistently paying their water bills to Rukungiri National Water.
Residents, together with local leaders, told Boona Radio that they have now gone over two weeks without receiving water.
Speaking to Boona Radio, the Katonya Parish Councillor, Mrs. Tumihirwe Medius Rubagasira, a resident of Mashongora, expressed her dissatisfaction with Rukungiri National Water, which supervises and supplies gravity water in Nyakagyeme Subcounty. She said that although residents have endured long-standing challenges with water supply, the current situation is worse than before.
“We have waited patiently, hoping the situation would improve, but it has only become worse. Now, residents have completely refused to pay their bills,” Mrs. Tumihirwe said.
She confirmed that residents have resorted to fetching water from ponds, wetlands, and rivers they dug earlier, which puts them at risk of waterborne diseases since the water is unsafe for consumption.
CUE IN: TUMIHIRWE… RR
Kyampeire Phiona, a resident of Katonya, also expressed her frustration, saying they have endured more than two weeks without water despite paying their bills.
“This has tempted some residents to stop paying their bills altogether, while others have destroyed their taps,” Kyampeire said.
She added that with clean water sources far away, residents are left with no option but to fetch water from wetlands, rivers, and ditches.
CUE IN: PHIONA… RR
The Katonya LC1 Chairperson, Mrs. Hildah Komujuni, also voiced her dissatisfaction, noting that a team came between January and February, dug trenches, connected pipes, and left. Some areas were never connected to water, and others still have no taps. She called on the Rukungiri National Water technical team to urgently address the situation.
CUE IN: HILDAH… RR
In response, Rukungiri National Water Manager, Madam Amumpeire Barbara, told Boona Radio that the issue seemed unusual and even doubted the claims, saying such a long-term disruption is rare. However, she assured residents that a technical team would be dispatched to investigate and resolve the problem.
