Residents of Lusaka Upper village in Hoima Municipality, are crying foul over the chronic shortage of safe and clean water in the area.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network, the locals complained of taking contaminated water from hand dug up wells. There are no protected water sources.
Joseph Byaruhanga, who drew his two jerry cans of water at Kabajungu hand dug up well says the water in the village is unsafe- contaminated by human and animal waste.
Although the resident says his family boils the water for drinking, he expresses fear that they could contract waterborne diseases if no solution is provided to this problem.
Yosia Baguma, another resident reveals that although families in the area boil drinking water, children always drink the contaminated water on their way from school.
Baguma urges the municipal council authorities to extend piped water to the area to save the populace from this water problem.
According to residents, Kabajungu well is the only water point serving the villages of Kijungu, Kyarwabuyamba and Lusaka upper in Hoima municipality.
Felix Mugano, the Hoima municipal health inspector admits to the water problem in the area, but says the municipal council cannot at the moment extend piped water to the area due to budgetary constraints.
Mugano only advises residents to fetch their drinking water from national water and Sewerage Corporation as the authorities try to handle the problem.
Ibrahim Luswata, the Hoima district water engineer says a study found out that water in the areas of Lusaka and its neighborhood was contaminated and unsafe for human consumption and residents were advised to shun it.
Luswata blames the problem on poor town planning where toilets are constructed uphill and the runoff water carries the waste to water sources when it rains.
Lack of safe drinking water has been a major outcry by residents in Hoima municipality’s countryside.
In some areas like Kitoma in Busiisi division, the problem is attributed to breakdown of the constructed water sources and reduction in the water table that causes some water sources to dry up.
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