BY JOACKIM KULE
Cattle keepers in Kabirizi village, Lake Katwe Sub-county in Kasese district are finding it hard to access water for their animals to drink during the current dry season.
Kabirizi village is one of the water stressed communities across the district. It is harboring both pastoralists and cultivators.
The cattle keepers have revealed that their animals have greatly been affected following the long distances that they trek while looking for the water sources.
Mr. Amos Kambikwire, one of the prominent cattle keepers in the area revealed last evening that taking their herds of cattle to Nyamughasana River in the Queen Elizabeth National Park becomes costly to them since their animals are sometimes hit by the speeding vehicles as they cross the road.
According to Kambakwire, they trek close to three kilometers with their animals, something that affects the health of the young animals.
Mr. Robert Musinguzi and Ms. Doreen Tusingwire both residents of the same area said due to insufficient water sources, most of the farmers have lost their animals to the dry spell.
The duo calls for government’s intervention into the matter in an attempt to sustain their projects.
Responding to the concerns of the residents, the Kasese District Water Engineer, Mr. Patrick Ndungu Syaipuma restored the hope of the farmers, saying government was yet to solve their problem through Nyamughasana Water Supply and Sanitation Project that is under construction.
Mr. Syaipuma said that the Project has been designed to cover more than 18 sub counties and Town Councils that are water stressed but in two phases, assuring them that their community is among those that have been given the first priority.
However, the Kasese District Principal Assistant Secretary, Mr. Mustafa Kikusa said they should not only utilize the water project for cattle keeping but also for crop production.