Kigezi College Butobere in Kabale Municipality is grappling with a critical water shortage that is threatening both its daily operations and ongoing infrastructure rehabilitation.
The school, which currently has 287 students, has been depending on the Nyakiju Gravity Flow Scheme for its water supply. However, the system is no longer reliable, leaving learners and staff in a difficult situation.
Head Teacher Justus Matsiko raised the concern during a monitoring visit by officials from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) and the Office of the Auditor General.
The inspection, supported by GIZ and conducted in partnership with Kick Corruption Out of Uganda, followed the first day of a Train the Trainers session on the use of the Contract Monitoring System (CMS) at Heras County Resort.
The school is currently undergoing a Shs 2.5 billion rehabilitation project being implemented by Vidas Engineering Services, expected to last one year. However, Matsiko warned that the water crisis could undermine key components of the project, including the rehabilitation of water-borne toilets.
He further revealed that a second water line constructed to serve the school had been vandalized, blaming sections of the surrounding community for damaging the pipeline. This, he said, had worsened the school’s already fragile access to clean water.
“We may not even be able to use the improved toilet system because there is no reliable water source. We call upon government to construct a dedicated supply that can benefit both the school and the community,” Matsiko appealed.
Robert Byamugisha Kakuru, the Director of Kick Corruption Out of Uganda, also weighed in, condemning the tensions between the school and the community over water access.
He urged urgent government intervention to resolve the disputes and ensure lasting harmony.
