Residents of Nyakarama North and Nyakashoga parishes in Rugarama sub-county in Sheema district on Friday demonstrated accusing the Government of failing to supply them with clean and safe water.
According to the residents, since 1993 when their Spring became faulty, they have been depending on stagnant water in swamps which has since dried up due to changes in the environment.
Edison Ahimbisiibwe, one of the angry residents and Tobias Kwevuga, the Kyamanengyere 2 village chairperson narrated that the main source of their water was Kyarweera river which was later taken up by National water and Sewerage Corporation leaving them with no option but to share water sources with animals and alcohol distillers.
Regiina Kabwijana, an elderly in Kyamanengyere village told our reporter that by the time she goes to fetch water at around 8am, she finds drop because young and energetic people in the area wake up in the wee hours every morning and fetch the whole of it.
Innocent Atukwatse, another resident threatened not to get involved in elections anymore if their issues are not sorted with immediate effect.
According to Dr. Darius Muhoozi of Kitagata hospital who also hails from Kyamanengyere, Rugarama sub-county has the highest rate of intestinal and diarrhoeal diseases and highest rate of premature births among pregnant women in the whole district which he attributes to drinking unsafe water.
Edwin Akampa, a student at Ntare School noted that as if sharing water sources with animals is not enough, students in the parishes of Nyakarama and Nyakashoga in the same subcounty have ceased using phones due to the poorest network of both MTN and Airtel which has led them to travelling daily long distances to Shuuku town council to access their online lessons in this pandemic lockdown.
Dennis Owakubariho, the Rugarama subcounty chairperson revealed to our reporter that they have access to only UTL Network known to many as Mango but its also not reliable.
Owakubariho stresses that only 40% of the people in the Sub-county which neighbor Kasaana and Bugongi can access safe and clean water.
According to Owakubariho, the most affected areas are Kyamanengyere 1& 2, Kyamatunguru, Ruhorobero, Kabwa, Bigona, Rwakabirengye and others.