River Rwizi overflow floods Mbarara
RIVER Rwizi, the main source of water in Mbarara, has flooded for the first time in five years. The river originates from Buhweju hills in Bushenyi district and joins River Kagera in Rakai which flows into Lake Victoria.
By Ebenezer Bifubyeka
RIVER Rwizi, the main source of water in Mbarara, has flooded for the first time in five years. The river originates from Buhweju hills in Bushenyi district and joins River Kagera in Rakai which flows into Lake Victoria.
Rwizi has been shrinking due to the destruction of water catchment areas like swamps and wetlands.
Jeconious Musingwire from the National Environmental Management Authority said the flooding was temporary because the degradation would soon cause the water levels to decline.
“Although the river filled up because of heavy rainfall during the past two weeks, water catchment areas like swamps and wetlands have been degraded and depleted.â€
Meanwhile, part of the river at Omuruhenda village in Masha, Isingiro district, has shrunk and is drying up due to silting.
The LC3 chairperson of Omuruhenda village, Milton Tumwesigye, said residents cultivate on the river banks at Komero.
“The water hyacinth is also suffocating the river in Masha, leading to scarcity of water in the area. A jerrycan costs sh800,†Tumwesigye said at the recent launch of a 1,200 litre milk cooler for Masha Farmers’ Cooperative Society at Nyamisindo.
RIVER Rwizi, the main source of water in Mbarara, has flooded for the first time in five years. The river originates from Buhweju hills in Bushenyi district and joins River Kagera in Rakai which flows into Lake Victoria.
Rwizi has been shrinking due to the destruction of water catchment areas like swamps and wetlands.
Jeconious Musingwire from the National Environmental Management Authority said the flooding was temporary because the degradation would soon cause the water levels to decline.
“Although the river filled up because of heavy rainfall during the past two weeks, water catchment areas like swamps and wetlands have been degraded and depleted.â€
Meanwhile, part of the river at Omuruhenda village in Masha, Isingiro district, has shrunk and is drying up due to silting.
The LC3 chairperson of Omuruhenda village, Milton Tumwesigye, said residents cultivate on the river banks at Komero.
“The water hyacinth is also suffocating the river in Masha, leading to scarcity of water in the area. A jerrycan costs sh800,†Tumwesigye said at the recent launch of a 1,200 litre milk cooler for Masha Farmers’ Cooperative Society at Nyamisindo.