Kampala taps run dry as water crisis persists

By Alfred Byenkya

Parts of Kampala have continued to experience water shortage as a result of the January dry spell.

The shortages have been experienced in some parts in Rubaga, Kawempe and Nakawa divisions.

According to some of the residents who live in the affected areas, the shortage has affected their households and business operations.

Alex Gahima, a resident of Butabika in Nakawa Division told The New Vision that water shortage has been in their area since Friday.

“Since Friday last week, we have not had water on our taps. We are lucky because we had stored some water in our tanks. When water comes, we make sure that we harvest enough that can take us through for one to two days,” he said.

Karungi Eveline Amooti, a resident of Dobbi Zone in Kalerwe also says there’s water shortage in the area.

“The problem started last week, it started when the pressure at our tap gradually reduced. Now the tap has run dry. Me and my neighbours have resorted to water from a nearby well,” she explained.

Parts experiencing water shortages include Luzira, Bwaise, Makerere, Kisaasi and Kyebando Central and Kasokoso in Kireka, Wakiso district.

A survey carried out by The New Vision in some parts of the city shows that a jerrycan of water costs between shs 500 and sh1000.

Early this month, National Water and Sewerage Corporation started rationing water in some parts of the city following a daily shortage of sh50m litres of water as a result of the dry spell.

Corporation officials said that they need sh240m litres of water to effectively supply city dwellers but is currently supplying only sh190m litres.

The Corporation Public Relations Manager, Samuel Apedel, told The New Vision Tuesday that were to explain to the general public about the problem.