BY JOACKIM KULE
Local leaders from Bukonzo County East and Busongora County South in Kasese district have proudly welcomed the Nyamughasana Water Supply and Sanitation Project that has been designed to address the water and poor hygiene challenges in their communities.
The project whose construction work has started is expected to accommodate more than 3,500 tap stands and a number of water borne toilets at some selected public institutions like schools and health facilities.
Funded by the World Bank, the mega project that will consume over shillings 108 billion will be implemented in two phases.
The first phase will cover 11 Lower Local Governments including the sub-counties of Kyarumba, Kyondo, Kisinga, Kahokya, Muhokya, Kitabu, and Kisinga and Kyarumba Town Councils at a tune of over shillings 62 billion.
Speaking to the press last evening shortly after the 4th site inspection exercise, Mr. Absalom Mumbahya, the L. C I Chairperson for Mughanza village in Kyarumba Sub-county, revealed that ever since the area started experiencing landslides, the population depends on dirty water because most of the sources were destroyed.
He was optimistic that Nyamughasana Water Project is completed; cases of people being hit by diseases resulting from poor hygiene and consumption of contaminated water would reduce.
Mr. Robert Kyana, stressed that 70% of the residents were grappling with water related challenges, hence leading to the prevalence Gender Based Violence cases that are committed against young girls and women since they trek long distances in search of safe and clean drinking water.
Mr. Nyesio Bwambale Byamutima, the Kahokya Sub-county Chairperson whose area has been among the badly hit communities said he was happy that in addition to getting safe and clean drinking water, some primary schools would also be given water borne toilets.
The Kasese District Secretary for Works and Technical Services, Mr. Karim Baluku Kisembo, appealed to the Central Government to consider including other sub-counties that have similar challenges in the subsequent projects.
The Kasese District Senior Water Engineer, Mr. Patrick Ndungu Syaipuma assured the public that government was committed to ensuring that all communities get access to safe and clean drinking water.
He revealed that due to the continuous floods and mudslides, water coverage in Kasese district has decreased from 67% to 55%.
ENDS