Kikuube residents decry water crisis as sh960m project stalls

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Residents of Bubongo parish in Kabwoya sub-county, Kikuube district, are grappling with an acute water crisis after a government water project worth sh960 million stalled for nearly two years.

The project, which was intended to serve eight villages, including Ikoba, Ikoba I, Kyakasolo, Kadiki, Nyawante and Kabango, was being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment in partnership with Kikuube district local government.

Isia Busobozi, a resident of Ikoba I village, said construction works began in July 2024 but have since ground to a halt, with no visible progress on site.

He explained that excavation works were carried out and pipes installed, with residents assured that water would start flowing within days. However, the contractors later abandoned the site, leaving the community disappointed.

Busobozi said the affected villages are now facing severe water shortages, forcing residents to share contaminated water sources with wild animals in nearby swamps. He added that repeated attempts to seek clarification from leaders have yielded no results.

Jackson Mwambusha, a resident of Kadiki village, called on leaders to intervene and ensure the project resumes so that residents can access clean and safe water.

He questioned why the project was abandoned despite leaders being aware of the water crisis in the area, noting that there is not a single protected water source in the community. Residents, he said, are forced to walk long distances to fetch water from the Ikoba water well.

“This water project was our hope, but now it has been two years since the government commissioned its construction, and nothing is progressing. Who will give us the right information on why this project stalled?” he said.

Another resident, Eian Atuhairwe, claimed that beneficiaries were asked to contribute money on the promise that pipes would be installed, yet no work has been done. As a result, residents continue to rely on unprotected water sources shared with wild animals.

He warned that the consumption of contaminated water has exposed the community to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and diarrhoea, and appealed to leaders to intervene.

Risha Kwikiriza, the district councillor for Kabwoya subcounty, said she has raised the matter before the council on three occasions without receiving any meaningful response from the technical or executive arms of the district.

She said community members frequently demand updates from her, but she has been unable to provide answers due to the failure of responsible officers to explain what went wrong.

Kwikiriza noted that the project was approved by the council and the community provided land for its implementation, adding that residents are frustrated that the project was started and abandoned before completion.

Hillary Agondeze, a water officer in Kikuube district, said the project stalled after tests revealed high levels of iron in the water source.

He explained that after construction began, the district notified the Ministry of Water and Environment about the issue.

“We communicated the issue to the Ministry of Water, and we were told that the Ministry was looking for funds to secure an iron removal plant,” he said.

Kikuube District Chief Administrative Officer Canon Edward Musingye said the district currently has no solution to the problem, noting that he has written to the ministry to fast-track completion of the project.

“The truth is that the project has been delayed, but we are following up to know why they are delaying to complete the project,” Musingye said.

Recently, Noel Muhangi, the senior public relations officer at the Ministry of Water and Environment, said the ministry was undertaking all necessary processes to ensure beneficiaries receive clean water.

"The process requires an iron-removal plant, which is an additional cost to the project. In such a case, a site with such high iron is selected for treatment, and the population will very soon enjoy the services."