Naguru Police Barracks: Sixth week without running water

UTILITY

Police officers and their families living in Naguru Police Barracks, as well as nearby residents, are grappling with the water shortage that has persisted for almost six weeks.

Speaking to New Vision, Jennifer Nakato, a resident, said it has now been one and a half months since National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC) cut off water to the barracks which has prompted them to trek long distances in search of piped water.

"Due to the water shortage, we have resorted to fetching water outside the barracks and we are walking for over two kilometres to fetch water. We risk getting involved in accidents when our children are crossing busy roads," Nakato said.

Mary Isoto who was carrying a jerrycan of water with her children narrated that the situation is dire especially in terms of sanitation where many waterborne toilets have gone for over a month without running water.

The women are forced to cross the busy Ntinda Road daily in search of clean water. (Photo by Ramadhan Abbey)

"We request the people concerned to connect water back otherwise we likely face outbreak of cholera," Isoto said.

However when contacted, NWSC said Naguru and its surrounding areas have water supply in plenty but that the barracks has a prepaid water metre.

"You first update the prepaid automatic metre, then you access the water. We have not cut them off," NWSC spokesperson Sam Apedel explained.