Man excavates Muyenga tank Hill

Sep 18, 2017

Eng. Alex Gisagara, the director engineering services at NWSC, said they have stopped the developer from carrying out any more activities on the land because of breach of the structural integrity of the reservoirs.

PIC: Officials from National Water and sewerage Corporation visit the site of the excavation (Credit: Julie Kasirye)

Areas on the slopes of Muyenga Tank Hill risk being buried following an excavation by a private developer on top of the hill on which National Water and Sewerage Co-operation (NWSC) water tanks are also located.

Christopher Higenyi, a private developer, is excavating land that hosts the national water tanks (reservoirs) which hold 25 million litres.

The Land in question is located on plot 6146, Muyenga Tank Hill in Makindye, a Kampala suburb. The areas that could be affected include Kansanga, Muyenga, Bunga, Ggaba, Makindye, Bukasa, Kiwuliriza, Kisugu and Kabalagala, among others.

Eng. Alex Gisagara, the director engineering services at NWSC, said they have stopped the developer from carrying out any more activities on the land because of breach of the structural integrity of the reservoirs.

"In the structural plan of the reservoirs; excavation of the land near the hill would undermine the strength of the soils that host the tanks, hence leading to its collapse and causing a spill over," he said.

He said owing to the constant rains, there are fears that the rains might wash away the soils and cause floods in the city.

Gisagara explained that NWSC put a caveat on deep excavation in the area, which was supported by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).

In a letter to NWSC, Higenyi said he is ready to work with them to restore the soils.

"I have realised my mistake. I am willing to work with the corporation to restore the soils to avoid an upheaval," he said.

Muyenga tank hill stand at the peak with 1,306 m above sea level and is one of the highest points in Kampala.

For that reason, the hill was chosen to house NWSC water storage tanks, which supply Kampala, Kira and Mukono.

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