Two Masaka wetlands polluted
Dec 27, 2007
A UN Habitat report has shown that Nakayiba and Nabajuzi wetlands in Masaka are being polluted by wastes from car garages.
Dismus Buregyeya and Ali Mambule
A UN Habitat report has shown that Nakayiba and Nabajuzi wetlands in Masaka are being polluted by wastes from car garages.
Nabajuzi wetland serves as the main water supply for Masaka municipality and yet car wastes are dumped there without purification, the report noted.
George Kasumba, a consultant, told an urban development meeting in Masaka recently that people around Nakayiba wetlands grow yams, sugarcanes and sweet potatoes in the polluted swamp and sell them to town dwellers, posing a health threat.
He also pointed out that the garbage dumped at Bwala and Ssenyange hills is forced back to the town due to the strong winds and the flowing rain water.
The Masaka Municipality MP, John Kawanga, thanked the UN Habitat for providing over sh800m to improve Nyendo from a slum to a properly planned town.
He urged the municipality residents to embrace the changes initiated by the UN Habitat and local technical team.
“None of you would be happy if the neighbour constructs a toilet besides your sitting room. We need a properly planned town.â€
Jossy Materu, an urban settlement officer, said the municipality needed to fight environment abuse and poverty, if it was to be elevated to a city.
Masaka district chairman, Vincent Ssempijja, said homes and shops without toilets would be razed beginning next month.
Participants resolved that the municipality procures more land to broaden space for commercial and industrial programmes.
But the council speaker, Denis Majwala, said powers to allocate plots and land within the municipality belong to the district land board.
A UN Habitat report has shown that Nakayiba and Nabajuzi wetlands in Masaka are being polluted by wastes from car garages.
Nabajuzi wetland serves as the main water supply for Masaka municipality and yet car wastes are dumped there without purification, the report noted.
George Kasumba, a consultant, told an urban development meeting in Masaka recently that people around Nakayiba wetlands grow yams, sugarcanes and sweet potatoes in the polluted swamp and sell them to town dwellers, posing a health threat.
He also pointed out that the garbage dumped at Bwala and Ssenyange hills is forced back to the town due to the strong winds and the flowing rain water.
The Masaka Municipality MP, John Kawanga, thanked the UN Habitat for providing over sh800m to improve Nyendo from a slum to a properly planned town.
He urged the municipality residents to embrace the changes initiated by the UN Habitat and local technical team.
“None of you would be happy if the neighbour constructs a toilet besides your sitting room. We need a properly planned town.â€
Jossy Materu, an urban settlement officer, said the municipality needed to fight environment abuse and poverty, if it was to be elevated to a city.
Masaka district chairman, Vincent Ssempijja, said homes and shops without toilets would be razed beginning next month.
Participants resolved that the municipality procures more land to broaden space for commercial and industrial programmes.
But the council speaker, Denis Majwala, said powers to allocate plots and land within the municipality belong to the district land board.