HOIMA | WATER PROJECT | DORMANT

Sh700m water project in Buseruka sub-county, Hoima district, has been left to go to waste, one year after its commissioning.

The water project, which is situated in Chongambe village, Nyakabingo parish, in Buseruka sub-county, was commissioned in December 2021 but has since failed to serve its purpose.

Julius Magambo, a resident of Buseruka, said since the water system was commissioned, they have never got water.

“We have not got any drop of water in over a year; all the pipes are dry, and residents now depend on water from the swamp,” Magambo said.

The contract for the construction of the mini-piped water scheme was awarded to TAT and JAD Investments Limited. The piped water project, which was drilled at Chongambe swamp, is currently lying idle.

James Abigaba, a resident of Buseruka, said women are being raped as they go to the swamp to fetch water.

“We have got some cases of women being raped as they go to fetch water,” Abigaba said.

The project was funded by the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project, a government social protection and development-based program implemented under the Office of the Prime Minister.

The facility was intended to supply water to residents of Chongambe, Nyakabingo, Nyabihukuru, Kamugole, and Kasenyi Lyato, all in Nyakabingo parish.

Abandoned Project

Gladys Kansiime, a resident of Buseruka, said the pump house has become a habitat for snakes.

“The facility was abandoned by district officials, and we, the locals, have been mobilizing and cleaning around it since it was commissioned." We have never seen any district official coming to check on it,” Kansiime said.

Jonathan Mukasa, another resident, wants accountability for the money given to the locals since the facility has failed to perform its intended purpose. He said residents were hopeful that the project would address the challenge of water shortage in vain.

“We have made several reports to our leaders, but nothing has been done. We need water because that is a very big challenge in our area,” Mukasa said.

Jackson Katulinde, another resident, said currently they are sharing water with wild animals, which is likely to cause disease outbreaks such as cholera and typhoid.

Pump's Problem

Ali Tinkamanyire, the Buseruka sub-county chairperson, said there were several issues with the piped water system and that immediate intervention must be made to ensure that it is repaired to serve the community.

“The contract was managed by the district, and as sub-county leaders, we were not consulted, so we cannot do anything to change the situation,” Tinkamanyire said.

Kadir Kirungi, the Hoima LC5 chairperson, said the piped water pumping system broke down after it developed a mechanical problem, adding that the district, through the project funder, had finalized plans to have the water system repaired.

He said they had received several reports from members of the community about the failed water project in Buseruka.

“We have plans for repairing the whole system, but currently the district has no funds,” Kirungi said.

He said the facility requires sh500m to fully repair it, including work on the pump system, extension of electricity, and work on other defects.