Water crisis in Mbarara worsens

Severe water shortage in Mbarara Municipality and the neighbouring areas entered the fourth week yesterday following constant load-shedding and failure by the National Water Sewerage Corporation to adjust accordingly in pumping water.

“I have been having less hours of sleep for three weeks now. I set an alarm between 2am and 4 am to wake up and fetch water at a nearby tap because it is around this time that water pumped by NWSC flows,” Ms Aisha Nakimuli, a resident of Kakoba Division, said.

When she checks at 2am and there is no water flowing, she sets her alarm again to wake up after an hour or she keeps awake. When it comes, it flows for only an hour until the next day.

Several people in the area have resorted to trek long kilometres to River Rwizi to fetch unclean water. Hotels and other enterprises are counting heavy losses because of expenses incurred in fetching water using vans daily.
Customers also shun the hotel rooms because water for showering is provided in jerrycans and basins.

Mr Joseph Mugenyi, the acting manager of NWSC in Mbarara, said: “Load-shedding has intensified, diesel is expensive and we have one generator which must run for only eight hours because that is the condition for its use. But to maintain constant water supply we need to run the generator for 22 hours, or have Umeme power supply full-time.”

Following the crisis, NWSC officials and local leaders convened a meeting at Mbarara Municipal Council (MMC) hall last week and resolved to write to Umeme to provide power lines that are not subject to load-shedding to water works in Ruharo and Rwebikoona.

“NWSC Mbarara has faced tremendous challenges in water production and supply to the extent that our clients have threatened to protest,” reads the January 25 letter to Umeme signed, by Mr Mugyenyi.

It further reads: “We request Umeme to consider our request for provision of power lines to the two water works that are not subject to load-shedding or consider load shedding regimes for the water works to durations of at least 20 hours per day.”

Mayor Wilson Tumwiine told Daily Monitor that the council has solicited three vehicles to dispense water in areas that are very far from Rwizi throughout the day beginning this weekend.

But the Umeme manager in Mbarara, Mr Richard Lubega, said it could not be possible provide a non-load shedded line. “I have seen the letter but it’s not going to be possible. Load-shedding is everywhere, every town will request the same. People should be patient and wait for the completion of Bujagali power dam,” Mr Lubega said.

Mr Mugyenyi said NWSC has about 10,364 connections in Mbarara town, Biharwe, Bwizibwera and Kaberebere trading centres. Each connection on average serves nine people.

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