By KT Reporter
Inclusive of Kampala minister Minsa Kabanda, residents of the Kampala neighborhoods of Kitebi, Bunamwaya, Mutundwe and parts of Nalukolongo have taken more than 10 days now without water supply.
This started after NWSC closed the taps without first notifying them and up to this day, the reason for this water crisis hasn’t yet been explained. Concerned residents have written an email to Kamwokya Times asking for the matter to be written about.
“This makes news because this has never happened and secondly the affected areas include Mutundwe which is the home of national water and sewerage corporation chairman Badru Kiggundu. Many other big people are being affected, including minister Minsa Kabanda because the area has a lot of such heavyweights. The lord mayor of Kampala Erias Lukwago also has a home in this area and minister Charles Bakabulindi too. There are also security installations on the hill. Even the police stations are being affected yet they are having inmates. This is going to cause outbreak of diseases like cholera because even hospitals like Kitebi are being affected. We also have catholic parishes within the affected area,” the residents’ email reads in part. Even former MP Ken Lukyamuzi, the president of CP, lives in the affected area.
The email indicates that whoever visits the NWSC offices in Nalukolongo; they are told to go home and be patient because the water supply problem was caused by UEDCL which failed to supply electricity for the NWSC’s area service station in Wankulukuku which is supposed to pump water into people’s tanks and taps.
In absence of electricity supply by UEDCL, NWSC has resorted to using generators which are very expensive and unable to keep pumping water 24/7 because of the associated fuel costs.
The area residents have now turned to fetching unsafe dirty water in the Nalukolongo wetland which now is the only option they have.
In the last 10 days, they have been relying on rain water for those with rain harvesting tanks, which have now become depleted. In many homes, people no longer shower nor wash clothes. The little water available is being used now for cooking food and washing utensils.
If the problem remains unresolved, many of the schools which are in this area are going to have big problems re-opening come Monday 10th February because water is very important. People’s other businesses like hotels, washing bays and restaurants which are very many in this area, are already struggling because of lack of water access. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com.
