HEALTH   WATER   HYGIENE 

IGANGA - Although Busoga region boasts of numerous safe water sources, the precious liquid is often contaminated putting the lives of residents in danger.  

Recent research conducted by a local nongovernmental organisation (NGO), shows that one out of every two seemingly safe water sources is polluted.  

Namungalwe LC3 chairperson Anthony Kiringa says poor drainage, garbage spills and unhygienic practices such as open defecation contribute to the soiling of hitherto safe water sources in the urban centres.

“Our people need to change their ways to maintain the purity of the water they use. Some children even abandon uncovered jerrycans by the roadsides to first play before going home thereby compromising hygiene,” he says.  

Richard Kibuuka, the country manager of Evidence Action says data gathered about the state of affairs is a cause for worry since people’s lives are at risk.  

What went wrong?  

Kaliro district chairperson Elijah Kagoda attributes the status quo to residents’ poor hygiene conditions.

“The jerrycans we use for fetching water from so-called safe water sources are dirty. Many are also clogged with algae,” Kagoda says.  

He adds that those living near the lake and river shores depend on such contaminated waters for domestic use.  

Kaliro district health officer Dr Allan Katamba says three out of every 10 patients seeking medical attention in the local government are suffering from waterborne ailments.

“It is the major reason nowadays medics immediately recommend a typhoid test whenever patients come to health facilities. There are also more cases of diarrhoea and dysentery,” he says.  

Katamba adds that residents with water pots assume they have a safe drinking water source yet children dip their hands into the liquid while using cups to scoop out what to drink.  

Water minister Sam Cheptoris says nowadays, schoolchildren parades are no longer held to check on nails, teeth and hair whose surfaces act as habitats for germs.

Sam Cheptoris, the water and environment minister unveils a plaque to commission the dispenser project at Namungalwe town in Iganga. (Photo by George Bita)

“A child who has been scratching a dirty body will carry these pathogens into a communal water pot. So, even if the water had been boiled, it isn’t safe for drinking,” Cheptoris says. 

Current status  

Regina Kawala, a resident of Namalemba village in Bugweri district, says she boils drinking water for domestic use daily.  

“Unfortunately, three of my children have suffered from on and off bouts of typhoid over the last six months. It seems like I just waste my wood fuel to boil water,” Kawala says.  

She is not alone, Florence Nabirye, a resident of Nabidongha ward in Iganga town shared a similar testimony about her children suffering from diarrhoea, which according to medics may have arisen due to drinking water from an unhygienic source.

Way forward  

Kibuuka says the NGO has embarked on setting up dispensers at safe water collection points to help residents get safe drinking water.  

“The idea is to add a drop of liquid chlorine to the water to kill all pathogens. A five-litre jerrycan can sustain a water point for three months,” he says.  

According to him, they are operating in 11 districts with a target of having 12, 000 dispensers across the region by 2023.

Cheptoris says Busoga is lucky to have the water decontamination project.  

“I have been reliably informed that it costs sh12,000 worth of chlorine to purify water for a month. This calls for cost-sharing to make the project self-sustaining once the donor pulls out,” he adds.

Cheptoris urges villagers to have a water-user committee in place through which to enforce the cost-sharing arrangement.  

Richard Gulume, the Bugweri resident district commissioner says the local government has been using village health teams to sensitise residents on good hygienic practices.

What others say  

Prossy Naula, a resident of Budhwege village, Iganga district 

Some people still get their water from protected springs or wells. Such water is heavily polluted and not fit for human use.

Muhammad Ssengendo, a resident of Minani parish, Bugweri district  

Muhammad Ssengendo

I’m not comfortable with drinking water containing chlorine. I hear that the chemical causes users to suffer from side effects like dizziness.

Edinansi Logose, resident of Bumanya village, Kaliro district  

Edinansi Logose

Select water sources have dispensers with chlorine. However, some residents don’t know how to use the chemical properly.