Water scarcity hits Buikwe

Aug 07, 2020

Children and women spend most of their time at the borehole waiting for their turn to fetch water.

BUIKWE- Residents of Buikwe district are grappling with lack of water, which they said has caused them untold suffering.

The most affected sub-counties include Najja, Nyenga, Kiyindi town council and Ssi-Bukunja. The residents said for years, they have been walking long distances to access clean water.

At Bbulamazzi village in Kiyindi town council, the residents queue for water from as early as 6:00am until around 9:00pm.

Alex Kafuko, a resident, said children and women spend most of their time at the borehole waiting for their turn to fetch water.

"The borehole is not functioning at full capacity, yet it is serving a multitude of people from this village and the surrounding areas," Kafuko said.

He added that he was optimistic that the leaders have embarked on the process to have their village connected to piped water since they have started digging trenches where the pipes will be laid.

Lukalu village, which is found at the top of the hill, is also in the same dilemma. Residents said they walk long distances through a thick forest down the valley to get clean water.

Wilson Kiirya, a resident, said the Buikwe South Member of Parliament, David Mutebi, drilled for them a borehole, but it provides dirty water, which is not safe.

He added that to get clean water, one has to brave the long journey to Kiyindi landing site, where water is drawn directly from the lake.

"A jerrycan of water sold by vendors costs sh1000, which is too much for us, more so during this COVID-19 lockdown," he said.

Vincent Sajjabbi Kavuma from the Buikwe district water department, during a phone interview, said plans are underway to rescue the affected villages.

Kavuma said although some parts of the district, especially rural areas, lack clean water, most of the homes in the urban areas can access water sources.

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