City hotels want boreholes to cut water costs

By Francis Emorut

The commissioner water resources planning and regulations in the ministry of water and environment directorate of water resources management, Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, has revealed that city hotels have applied for permits to drill boreholes in their premises.

Tindimugaya also disclosed that an agency managing City Square now Constitutional Square and others in Kololo upscale residential area have applied for permits to drill boreholes in respective areas.

He said the government was studying the proposals case by case analyzing what is prompting hotels to apply for boreholes permits.

"Why are they asking for boreholes? Is it because National Water Sewerage Corporation is giving little water?" Tindimugaya asked.

He admitted that there were instances where the water agency has supplied little water but also wondered whether the hotels want to cut costs in terms of business operations since they use a lot of water.

When contacted Samson Ombogo, the general manager of Fairways Hotel, explained that the primary objective of asking for borehole permit is to cut cost of water used for gardening.

He said the hotel occupies 4 acres of land and has big gardens that require a lot for water to keep the environment green and to avoid plants from drying.​

"We wanted to use a borehole for gardening because water is too expensive," Ombogo said.

Ian Duncan, the general manager of Kampala Sheraton Hotel, was not available for a comment, however, an official from the engineering department said he was not aware of the application the hotel had submitted requesting for a borehole.

"I am not aware," the official said.

Mohammed Aya ,the proprietor of Hilton Hotel when contacted said he was not aware of the borehole request placed before the ministry of water and environment but promised to find out from the engineer.

The commissioner was speaking during a policy action on climate change adaptation meeting at Esella County Hotel in Kampala.

The meeting was hosted by Climate Change Learning Alliance in partnership with Environmental Management for Livelihood Improvement Bwaise Facility, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the ministry of water and environment climate change department.

It aimed at refining the work plan for policy awareness on climate change, share evidence on changing climate in Uganda and raise awareness on climate change policy issues.