BY JOACKIM KULE
A misunderstanding among the leadership of Ibanda – Kyanya Town Council, the community members and Board Committee of Ibanda –Bugoye Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme has attracted the attention of the Kasese Resident District Commissioner.
In 2009, Kasese district launched the construction of a water project worth shillings 1.49 billion. The project was to benefit Grater Bugoye and Maliba Sub-counties with its source tapped from the Rwenzori Mountains National Park. The project was funded by the European Union and Tronder Power.
However, a report from the Board Committee signed by Mr. Elijah Kule, the Board Secretary and confirmed by Mr. Joseph B. Mukongo, the Board Chairperson indicates that the project, which was purely for the community, is on the verge of being allegedly sold by the Ibanda – Kyanya Town Council leadership to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation.
The Board Committee says it is in fear that if the project is sold to National Water and Sewerage Corporation, the community members who are the beneficiaries might be forced to pay daily water bills compared to the shillings 2,500 that they currently pay monthly for maintenance.
However, the community members allege that the source of misunderstanding the said affected parties could be political influence based on political parties of NRM and FDC.
Barbara Kabugho, a resident of Ibanda – Kyanya Town Council revealed that if there wasn’t any political interference, the project would be running smoothly without any conflict.
Mr. Modesto Bwambale Kanekerya, the Town Council L. C III Chairperson says the current Board Committee for the project has overstayed, arguing that it was instituted on January 21, 2017, adding that their term of office expired on January 21, 2021.
He accuses the Board Committee of the alleged failure to provide accountability for the money collected from the residents and advocates for a reduction of the money collected from the water users from shillings 2,500 to approximately shillings 850 since the number of users including the existing companies has increased.
However, Mr. Abubekar Kule Asuman, the current Town Clerk, explains that when he assumed office three months ago, he didn’t find any file and records about the Water project that would guide him on the next course of action after realizing that there was a conflict.
Stephen Pritchard, one of the project funders from Tronder Power notes that he does want politics into the project, saying it is meant to help the community members to access water cheaply. He implored the residents to continue paying the user fees so that the project is not taken up by other partners.
Officiating at the harmonization meeting yesterday at St. Matia Mulumba Ibanda Catholic Parish headquarters, Mr. Zepher Mubingwa, the Kasese Deputy RDC in-charge of Busongora County directed that the Board Committee should continue serving for six more months, as the authorities appoint other members to the committee to help in policy formulation that would guide on the operations of the water project.
ENDS