Residents of Bwayegamba Parish in Kigarama Sub County, Sheema North Constituency, Sheema District are crying foul over the inadequate sources of clean water in their area.
From a distance, this dirty water covered with algae makes you think it is fetched for animals. But on inquiring from the children, and residents it is actually for home use: drinking and cooking.
“How do you drink such dirty water? Do you boil it?” I ask residents, as they chuckle and reply: “We do, but it still remains with its dirty colour.” In fact, residents say that the water even changes the colour of food, but they have no choice. This is the only available source of water.
For a first-time visitor, you may think this is an isolated case. But as you move deeper into the district, you notice that it’s a common sight.
Residents accuse the local leaders of not doing enough to address the problem of water shortage despite several reminders about the gravity of water crisis.
Joyce Kyarisiima a resident complained that while the matter became worse recently, they have faced similar problems on and off for years but nothing has been done apart from fake promises from elected leaders and government officials.
“We are suffering and we are likely to suffer most from waterborne diseases because we take dirty water. Our leaders starting from the District chairperson have kept quiet yet they know our cries. They should intervene,” Kyarisiima explained.
Tumuhimbise Philmon a resident added that their legislator once promised to work on engaging national Water and Sewerage Co-operation on bringing NSWC water taps and extending water supply across the sub-county but all have been futile and wonders, why they are engaged in voting yet leaders have on several occasions, failed to deliver services in the areas.
He added that the water problem has fueled cases of domestic violence in the area. He states that they have now resorted to foregoing bathing for some days and eating once a day.
According to Murungi Shidra the Councilor, poor water supply in the area has increased cases of acute chronic diarrhoea episodes, adultery and domestic violence.
“You see in many households that lack access to safe, readily available water at home, the responsibility of visiting the water facility often falls to women and girls. This leaves them vulnerable to harassment, sexual assault, or abuse. We already have reported, some women are being raped in order to get the services they’re entitled to,” Murungi said.
Meanwhile, we’ve learnt that it’s not only residents of Bwayegamba crying over poor water, angry residents who talked to our reporter vowed to deal with any elected leader who will come back soliciting support before water.