Rubirizi,Uganda – Residents of Katanda Sub County, Katerera Sub County and Katerera Town Council in Rubirizi District are celebrating after receiving a piped clean water project lobbied by the District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Arinaitwe Jeniva Nnalongo.
For decades, residents have been forced to compete with wild animals for stagnant, dirty and muddy water, as well as water from streams – a situation that has endangered human life and exposed communities to waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and bilharzia. Women and children have been walking long distances, spending productive hours fetching unsafe water.
By the time our reporter visited Munyonyi LCI in Katanda Sub County, trenches had been dug and pipes were already laid on the ground, connecting Katanda Sub County to Katerera Town Council and Katerera Sub County. Residents were actively participating in laying the pipes.
Residents Speak:
Abeaigwa Gilbert, LCI Chairperson of Mutanda, thanked Hon. Arinaitwe Jeniva Nnalongo and her team plus other district leaders for lobbying clean water for them, and urged residents to utilize it well so that it benefits generations to come.
Byamukama Robert, a former LCI Chairperson who settled in the area in 1998, said they have lived without clean water since then.
“I reached in this area in 1998 but we had no clean water. I thank Hon. Arinaitwe Jeniva Nnalongo for being hardworking and productive. Under her working slogan ‘Nimbikora Birebeka’ – meaning my work speaks for itself – at least now 529 residents in our Munyonyi ward will all benefit from this water,” Byamukama said.
He noted that residents of Omukatooma who have been using stream water, and residents of Muyenga and Rwentojo in Katerera who have been complaining for years, will also benefit.
Why Piped Water Matters:
Unlike stream and muddy water, piped water is treated, safe for human consumption, and free from contamination by animals, agricultural chemicals and faecal matter. It will drastically reduce the prevalence of waterborne diseases, cut medical expenses for households, improve hygiene and sanitation in homes and schools, and free women and girls from the burden of long-distance water collection.
Katongore Salimu from the office of Hon. Arinaitwe Jeniva Nnalongo thanked residents for being cooperative and delivered the Honourable’s message of continuous lobbying to ensure services reach the people, with improved education, health, roads and other infrastructure.
He revealed that the water will be ready for use very soon, with final connections ongoing.
Residents say they can now breathe a sigh of relief as they prepare to start using clean water for the first time in decades.
