Authorities in Rukiga District have raised concern over the increasing vandalism of government-funded water infrastructure, warning that those found destroying the facilities will be arrested and prosecuted.
The warning was issued on Friday during a community baraza in Kibanda Parish, Kamwezi Sub-county, where the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is implementing a Shs2.1 billion piped water project.
Raymond Mushabe, the NWSC engineer in charge of Rukiga District, said the project had already started supplying water to four villages in Kibanda Parish, including Kinyamozi, Rushojwa and Nyabunyungu.
However, he said the project was being threatened by vandalism, particularly the deliberate cutting of underground pipes by people illegally tapping water for bricklaying.
Eng Mushabe said authorities were working with police and other security agencies to identify and arrest the culprits.
He also warned residents against fetching water from damaged pipes, saying anyone found doing so would face arrest and prosecution.
He urged residents to report cases of water leakage to NWSC to enable the agency to carry out repairs.
CUE IN MUSHABE….ON THE MATTER….RR//
Rukiga District Woman MP Sylvia Arinaitwe expressed concern after receiving photographs showing damaged water pipes.
Dr Arinaitwe, a former NWSC deputy managing director, said it was disappointing for legislators who lobby for development projects to see the infrastructure vandalised.
She said some of the materials used to construct the project’s water reservoir tanks were imported from Australia because they are not manufactured elsewhere in Africa, making their replacement difficult.
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Rukiga Resident District Commissioner Zaddok Kamusiime warned that vandalising government infrastructure attracts severe penalties.
He described the perpetrators as saboteurs of government development programmes and urged residents to report anyone suspected of destroying the water facilities.
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Rukiga County MP Patrick Kiconco Katabaazi also urged residents to remain vigilant against people seeking to sabotage development projects in their communities.
He said local leaders would continue lobbying for more government projects, including access to safe water, electricity and healthcare.
Kiconco cited the ongoing construction of a multi-million-shilling irrigation scheme in Kyondo Village, Kashambya Sub-county, which he said had stalled since 2017 before being revived after the new leaders took office this year.
CUE IN KICONCO….ON THE MATTER….RR//
Meanwhile, Bon Shine, the NWSC Rukiga branch manager, said the Kibanda project is part of the Kyogo-Kibanda Water Supply Project, which is being funded by the Ugandan government.
Shine said the project is expected to benefit up to 14 villages in Kyogo and Kibanda, as well as parts of Rwamatunguru Township in Kamwezi Sub-county.
Construction is expected to be completed by December 2026.
Eng Mushabe said the project has four water sources with a combined production capacity of up to 148,900 litres per hour.
He said boreholes have been drilled at each of the four sources to directly serve residents in different villages in Kibanda Parish.
The project also has a power station that uses electricity to pump water into storage tanks with a combined capacity of up to 160,000 litres.
From the reservoir tanks, water is pumped through a 32-kilometre pipeline network to homes for domestic use and businesses for commercial purposes.
Eng Mushabe said residents who wish to access the water supply are required to apply for connections.
According to Tedison Niwagaba, the Kamwezi Sub-county LC3 chairperson, piped water coverage in the area currently stands at about 80 per cent.
Niwagaba also expressed optimism that residents would benefit from a Shs5 billion irrigation scheme pledged by President Yoweri Museveni during the 2026 presidential campaign.
He said the pledge was made in recognition of residents who voluntarily vacated wetlands in the district.
