Residents of Kibingwe and Kiyovu villages in Kacereere Ward, Ryakarimira Town Council in Ndorwa West Constituency, Kabale District, have expressed concern over a prolonged lack of access to clean and safe water, a challenge they say has persisted for nearly 30 years.
According to the LC1 Chairperson of Kibingwe Village, Turyingana Vicent Kachwekano, the community’s only water source became unusable after heavy soil erosion caused severe siltation, forcing residents to seek water from distant areas.
Kachwekano noted that families now spend at least Shs1,000 to purchase a single jerrycan of clean water, a cost that many households can barely afford.
CUE IN TURYINGANA……ON WATER ISSUE.…RR//
The LC2 Chairperson for Kacereere Ward, Francis Nuwagaba, said the situation has continued to worsen, with residents trekking long distances to neighbouring Karujanga Ward and Nyakitokori in search of water. He added that some villagers are even forced to cross into parts of Rwanda to access safe water sources.
Nuwagaba also highlighted the lack of electricity as another long-standing challenge affecting the area, despite power lines passing through the community to supply a nearby telecommunications mast.
“It is unfortunate that residents have lived without electricity for decades, yet power infrastructure passes right through the area,” Nuwagaba said.
He blamed the continued suffering of residents on poor coordination among local leaders, noting that efforts to engage the area Member of Parliament, David Kwesiga Bahati, over the water and electricity challenges have not yielded tangible results.
Residents are now appealing to government and relevant authorities to urgently intervene and provide lasting solutions to the persistent water and electricity problems.
CUE IN NUWAGABA……ON WATER ISSUE…… RR//
Meanwhile, while addressing residents from the area at Mugando Church of Uganda in Ryakarimira town council on Friday, Kabale District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon Catherine Atwakiire Ndamira, who is seeking re-election as an independent candidate, reaffirmed her commitment to empowering households across the district to improve incomes and fight poverty.
Atwakiire noted that while government has invested heavily in road infrastructure, many families remain trapped in poverty, arguing that development should go beyond physical infrastructure.
She emphasized the need for deliberate interventions aimed at boosting household incomes, saying improved livelihoods are key to meaningful development.
Atwakiire pledged to prioritize initiatives that support wealth creation and economic empowerment at the household level to ensure development directly benefits residents.
CUE IN ATWAKIIRE……ON HOUSEHOLD EMPOWERMENT……RR//
