Safe Water Eludes Rural Communities In Kabarole

http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=55848

Rural areas in Kabarole district have not had access to safe and clean water for two years, despite huge sums of money allocated to the water sector.

In an audit report released by Kabarole District Public Accounts Committee, more than 1.6 billion shillings allocated to the water sector for the two financial years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, was diverted to other sectors or mismanaged, depriving communities of clean water.

The report also states that in the villages in Kisomoro, Karambi, Busoro and Kibiito sub counties, boreholes, water springs and gravity water schemes broke down two months after being constructed and have never been repaired.

When Uganda Radio Network visited some of the areas named in the report, residents accused the district authorities of neglecting them.

In Burungu village, Karambi Sub County, five boreholes broke down last year, but have never been repaired.  Patrick Ahurra, a resident of Burungu says they have requested the district water department to repair the water sources in vain. Ahurra says the lack of access to clean water could worsen the occurrence of water-borne diseases since most of the residents fetch water from the river and nearby swamps.

//Cue in: “The problem is water…
Cue out:…to clean water.”//

In Busoro Sub County, Nsoro well is the only water point serving the villages of Kijungu, Nsoro, Kateera and Mugurusi.

Resty Baguma, a resident of Kateera says that some residents take water from hand-dug wells which are contaminated with human and animal waste.

Baguma says that although some families boil the water for drinking, she expresses fear that they could contract waterborne diseases if no solution is provided to the water problem. She also says children always drink the contaminated water on their way from school.

She wants the district authorities to construct more water sources in the area and save the community from the water problem.

When contacted, Patrick Ochakara, the Kabarole district Chief Administrative Officer declined to comment on the matter.

But Steven Businge, the district water officer, told Uganda Radio Network that some of the money was diverted to the administration sector, while the other funds were used to construct the water sources, but blamed the contractors for doing substandard work and failing to complete some of the water sources. He says the contractors have been dragged to the courts of law for breach of contract.

David Mugenyi, the chairman of the district public accounts committee, says the report will be tabled before the district council and will decide if there is any action that needs to be taken.