Kasese residents battle worst water crisis ever

A severe water crisis has hit most parts of Kasese district following the breakdown of boreholes which are the major sources of water in the district.

A 20 liter water Jerry can in Muhokya sub-county now goes for shillings 1,200.

Fred Businge, a resident of Muhokya says the water crisis is impacting negatively on the lives of residents.

Most parts of Kasese district are grappling with the acute water shortage which has hit most areas due to the prolonged drought which has hit the district.

In Karusandara sub-county, residents have to trek over 10km to access water at River Mubuku.

In Nyakatonzi, Lake Katwe and Muhokya sub -counties, pastoralists have been hit hard as they have to trek several kilometers to get water for their animals.

"We have been forced to sell our animals at giveaway prices because we don't have water and the pastures have dried up," said Mugisa Patrick, a pastoralist in Ibuga Kitswamba sub-county.

He said that some pastoralists have lost several animals as a result of the prolonged drought which has hit the district.

Karusandara sub-county has the lowest water access rates in Kasese with majority of the people depending on dirty and stagnant water for domestic use.

The LC III chairman for the sub- county, Ezra Turyahebwa says that that the situation is very acute as people are suffering.

"All the boreholes which were constructed several years back are no longer functioning, some of the rivers which people used to depend on for water have dried up and now people have to trek over 20 kilometers to access clean water from Mubuku river," said Turyahabwa.

Turyahabwe said that because of the long distance, residents are forced to fetch water from dirty streams or to walk long distances into neighboring villages.

Kunihira Elizabeth, a resident of Kanamba cell in Kanamba parish said the situation is appalling and that because of the water shortage; some residents have given up bathing reserving the little available water for drinking.

Augustine Kooli, the Kasese district environment officer said recently during the launch of the project to preserve the banks of River Mubuku in Karusandara that massive deforestation is to blame for the depletion of the water sources.

He said a large percentage of the forest cover has been destroyed by charcoal makers or people clearing land for agriculture. As a result the springs and streams are exposed, silted and most of them have dried up.

"People have destroyed all the natural vegetation along the river beds and that has resulted into the depletion of water sources but as a department we are encouraging them to restore the river beds," said Kooli.

The project funded by the ministry of water is aimed at protecting the banks of river Mubuku from human activities.

Mubuku Integrated Farmers Association (MIFA) is undertaking the planting of bamboo trees along the banks of the river.