Luweero residents arrested over latrines

One of the residents arrested standing near his pit latrine. Photos by Frederick   Kiwanuka 

THE fight against poor sanitation in Bamunanika County, Luweero District, has taken a legal twist. Local authorities have launched operations to arrest residents who have no latrines.

At least 30 people were on Thursday arrested during an operation in Kamira Sub-county. The LC3 chairman, Edward Sennyonjo said the operations target residents who have no pit-latrines or those with latrines in poor conditions.

He explained that the operations were being carried out with the aim of improving sanitation in the area. He further said that the sanitation standards in the area were very poor with very many residents defecating in the bushes while others used rudimentary structures as latrines.

Some of the suspects that were arrested for not having pit latrines

 
Entire villages got deserted as residents fled in fear of being apprehended by the sub-county officials, who moved from house to house in search of those without latrines.

Several homesteads were found without latrines while others had latrines that were wanting in terms of safety and user-privacy.

The Sub-county Health Assistant, Prossy Nannyunja said that the poor health standards in the remote Sub-county had led to a high prevalence of diseases like diarrhea, which are related to poor hygiene.

She said that some of those arrested would be taken to court. Others would just be just cautioned and let go.

One of latrines poor condition