Water prices shoot up in Kamuli district

Mar 03, 2011

THE price of a 20-litre jerrican of water in Kamuli town, Kamuli district has shot up from sh100 to sh800 in a fortnight. The price increase resulted from water shortage attributed to drought.

By Tom Gwebayanga

THE price of a 20-litre jerrican of water in Kamuli town, Kamuli district has shot up from sh100 to sh800 in a fortnight. The price increase resulted from water shortage attributed to drought.

The area LC3 secretary for security, Robert Mujumbire, said the incessant power cuts are also to blame as the council has no standby generators to pump water.

“Power goes off for three days and that affects the water supply. The springs cannot supply satisfactory amounts of water for this population,” Mujumbire said on Monday.

Moses Yeko Kyeiswa, a resident of Lufula Ndiizi, said the fact that not all town dwellers had access to piped water resulted into people congesting the springs.

“This is the last resort but securing a jerrycan of water is like mining for gold,” Yeko said.

Annet Namabiro of Bunangwe said challenges like men waylaying underage girls and quarrels among married couples have erupted.

“Spending long hours at the spring has made men suspicous of their wives. This is a threat to our social welfare,” she said.

On the other hand, the shortage has turned into a money-making venture for people who sell water.

Johnson Muteeba, one of the people in the trade, said his market had widened.

“I used to sell between eight and 15 jerrycans per day but the number has tripled. I now have more disposable income,” he said.

His ability to save had also been greatly enhanced, he added.

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