Open defecation: over 40% of Kasese town residents lack toilets

By Wilson Asiimwe

KASESE – More than 40% of the people living in Kasese municipality have no toilets and defecate in the open, the mayor Godfrey Kabyanga has said.

Speaking during the commissioning of a modern public toilet at Kisanga market in Nyamwamba division, Kabyanga said the situation puts the lives of the residents at risk of diseases such as cholera.

He said people have resorted to using incomplete houses and bushes near their homes to relieve themselves.

“We conducted an operation in the two divisions, central and Nyamwamba and arrested several people who did not have latrines and we have arraigned them in court,” said the mayor.

Because of the low latrine coverage in the municipality, authorities had decided to intensify operations against landlords without latrines.

“Some people are saying they will not give me votes because I am arresting people for not having latrines. I want to lead a healthy society,” Kabyanga emphasized.

‘We’ve survived being killed’

Due to the poor health and sanitation in Kasese, the municipal council formed a committee chaired by the central division assistant town clerk, Kayiri Kambasu, to monitor sanitation in the town.

In Kasese, town people use corridors as latrines while others defecate in polythene bags which they dump along the streets.

Habib Bikumbi, the health educator in charge of Nyamwamba division, said despite sensitization on the dangers of having no toilets, most people have refused to construct latrines.

He said: “We have on several occasions survived lynching by members of the communities accusing us of harassing them to construct latrines and that is the reason we now move with the Police when carrying out inspections.”

Jane Masika, a resident of Kidodo cell in central division, blames the low latrine coverage in the municipality on some local leaders who do not co-operate with the municipal officials in arresting those without latrines.