School ordered to manage its waste disposal
This file photo shows a drainage channel that spills sewage to a farm in Lubowa, Wakiso District. Sewage poses a health and environmental risk. PHOTO BY KELVIN ATUHAIRE
What you need to know:
- The residents say the water has a foul smell as a result of the waste that flows from Janaan Secondary School.
More than 260 families in Nkondo Village, Nyimbwa Sub-county in Luweero District, have raised the red flag over an open sewer from a nearby school that channels waste into a swamp from where they draw water.
The residents say the water has a foul smell as a result of the waste that flows from Janaan Secondary School.
Ms Eseza Nabayengo, a resident, claimed that they had been relieved of the foul smell when schools closed following the outbreak of Covid-19, but when candidates reported back on October 15, the situation re-emerged.
“We are surprised that the school authorities established an open channel directing the waste water into the wetland. The dirty water from the students’ bathrooms and the dormitories is channelled down the wetland,” Ms Nabayengo said in an interview last week.
“We tried to raise our complaints through the local leaders but our efforts never yielded fruit. We later petitioned the district environment office for possible intervention. We fear for the safety of the lives of our family members that could contract diseases as a result of the polluted environment,” she added.
Mr James Saabwe, the village chairperson, said he received complaints from the residents.
“I believe that the foul smell could be contained if the school authorities established some soak pits. We pray that this problem is swiftly addressed,” Mr Saabwe said.
What authorities say
Ms Scovia Kayonga, the district environment officer, said when the matter was reported to her office, her team visited the area.
“We also visited Janaan School where we established that they lacked the soak pits to accommodate the waste water from the students bathrooms among other facilities,” she said.
“The school authorities promised to establish the soak pits to contain the environmental pollution, but this has never been resolved. We hope to visit the school as a follow-up,” Ms Kayonga added.
Mr Mike Kironde, the director of Janaan Secondary School, said plans are underway to establish soak pits.
“The district environment officials advised that we establish a lagoon to accommodate the waste water. We believe that a lagoon is a much more expensive project, but we have resolved to have soak pits to accommodate the wastewater. We do not want to endanger the school community and the neighbourhood,” he pledged.
