Senior Reporter
Residents of Bukiro town council and Bwizibwera-Rutooma Town council in Kashari South Mbarara district are reportedly sharing water with animals hence putting their lives at risk.
It is reported that scarcity of water in the district is forcing residents to draw water from ponds, as most of the boreholes constructed by the district are now faulty due to a lack of proper maintenance by the district in cooperation with communities.
Eng Joseph Mucunguzi, the Mbarara district water Engineer says that the situation is worsening each day and the district has been incapacitated, adding that in one financial year, they were able to construct seven boreholes at a cost of shs.175million in Kashare and Bubaare sub-counties and one solar powered dam in Bukiro Sub County at a cost of shs.350 million.
He said that the district water budget for this financial year is shs.470 million of which they will construct seven boreholes at shs. 175million and the rest of the funds will be used to finalize the Kigoro water project at shs.180million
Eng Mucunguzi said the district water coverage stands at 47% thus calling upon volunteers to supplement the district’s budget by repairing the faulty water projects.
While presiding over the handing over of various boreholes rehabilitated and sponsored by Hon Loydah Twinomujuni Muhimbura the Woman councilor representing Rubaya Sub County in Mbarara district council, she told the benefiting communities that lack of clean water has persisted for a long and has put in their request through her office she sacrificed to look for funds to work for them.
She, however, said that residents who have accessed clean water now will be able to save the money they use to treat waterborne diseases on economically productive activities to increase household income and advised to boil water for drinking before consumption.
