Hundreds of thousands of rural people and their livestock in the western Uganda depend on polluted water according to environmentalists there.
Environmentalists in the region say most of the waters in the rivers, lakes, and wells there have been polluted and are now brown in color. They blame this mostly on poor methods of farming which causes soils from this hilly region to slop down the hills and pollute waters in the valleys every time it rains.
I visited this region and toured the famous River Rwizi, one of the main Rivers in the region which is a source of water for thousands of local people and their livestock. Snaking through the famous hills of southwestern Uganda, Rwizi was always a beautiful river that brought pride to the people in the area due to its sky blue waters and the purposes they served.
Today, River Rwizi is back in news not for its great beauty and history but for being under a brink of death. The deadly disease whose symptoms include browning and ever decreasing waters was spread to it by the people who depend on it according to the agency that oversees environment in Uganda-NEMA.
The focal person for the National Environment Management Authority-NEMA in the western region, Jeconeous Musingwire told me that the water of River Rwizi “should never be shaded blue on any map because its color is brown like soil.”
He disclosed that Rwizi’s waters are brown because of sedimentation. “There is a lot of soil wash off from the river’s poorly managed catchments areas,” laments Musingwire.
River Rwizi which originates from Buhweju, a mountainous county of Bushenyi district meanders through the bare hills of southwestern Uganda in Bushenyi, Ntungamo and Mbarara districts. It continues to flow via several cattle grazing places in this region before joining Lake Mburo National Park and later joins Lake Mburo.
Musingwire says valleys and hills which river Rwizi meanders through are usually set on fire in the dry seasons. According to Musingwire, the same hills and valleys are again faced with poor methods of cultivation in rainy seasons. This, Musingwire says, “leaves soils from the poorly managed hills and valleys dumped into the River every time it rains.” This, he says is not only happening to River Rwizi but also to several other water bodies in the region
Musingwire tips that poor methods of farming could continue threatening water sources in this region unless local people there promote soils conservation.
END
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Masaka Inhabitants Consume Contaminated Water-UN-HABITAT
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–HABITAT) has warned that petroleum and vehicle garage wastes in the Uganda’s southwestern town of Masaka pour into Nakayiba and Nabajuzi wetlands, the major sources of water for the town inhabitants.
George Kasumba, the UN Habitat Consultant, warns that the inhabitants of this town are in great danger because, “the wastes from the town enter these wetlands without being purified.”
While speaking at a one-day strategic Urban Development Plan for Masaka Municipality at Tropic Inn Hotel recently, Kasumba lamented that this as a result of lack of a reliable dumping site for Masaka Municipality.
Worse more, the population surrounding Nakayiba wetland grows yams, sugarcanes and sweet potatoes within this swamp which are later consumed by the local people and the town dwellers.
According to Kasumba, there is need for, “proper treatment of the water from these wetlands” to make sure that local people do not consume contaminated water from these wetlands.” Several people close to these wetlands collect water direct from them which they sometimes drink unboiled or use to prepare their food.
He also said that the garbage from Masaka Municipality dumped at Bwala and Ssenyange hills straw back to the urban area due to the strong winds and the flowing rainwater.
Speaking at the same function, the Masaka District Chairperson, Vincent Ssempijja said that operations against shops and homes constructed without toilets in the municipality are going to start effective with this month of January. He urged all the local leaders in the district to work towards having standard sanitation and hygiene in their communities.
The Member of Parliament for Masaka Municipality thanked the UN Habitat for providing about 1.4 million dollars towards the improvement of Nyendo from a slum environment to a properly planned town status.
END
George Kasumba, the UN Habitat Consultant, warns that the inhabitants of this town are in great danger because, “the wastes from the town enter these wetlands without being purified.”
While speaking at a one-day strategic Urban Development Plan for Masaka Municipality at Tropic Inn Hotel recently, Kasumba lamented that this as a result of lack of a reliable dumping site for Masaka Municipality.
Worse more, the population surrounding Nakayiba wetland grows yams, sugarcanes and sweet potatoes within this swamp which are later consumed by the local people and the town dwellers.
According to Kasumba, there is need for, “proper treatment of the water from these wetlands” to make sure that local people do not consume contaminated water from these wetlands.” Several people close to these wetlands collect water direct from them which they sometimes drink unboiled or use to prepare their food.
He also said that the garbage from Masaka Municipality dumped at Bwala and Ssenyange hills straw back to the urban area due to the strong winds and the flowing rainwater.
Speaking at the same function, the Masaka District Chairperson, Vincent Ssempijja said that operations against shops and homes constructed without toilets in the municipality are going to start effective with this month of January. He urged all the local leaders in the district to work towards having standard sanitation and hygiene in their communities.
The Member of Parliament for Masaka Municipality thanked the UN Habitat for providing about 1.4 million dollars towards the improvement of Nyendo from a slum environment to a properly planned town status.
END
Town in Uganda Declared A Dangerous Urban Area For Human Settlement Due To Untreated Water Sources
A town in Uganda has been declared by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN–HABITAT), a dangerous urban area for human settlement due to lack of use of untreated water from polluted sources and lack of sewerage management system.
The United Nations Human Settlements agency also laments that KYOTERA Town in Rakai District lack a dumping site and a master physical plan.
Kyotera has been listed among the 30 secondary towns experiencing rapid urbanization at a rate of 3-7% per annum in East Africa according the Senior UN Habitant Consultant based in Nairobi, Jossy Matero.
“The rapid urbanization rate of towns without proper plans has turned into a menace and are the main generators of pollution loads entering Lake Victoria ” he said.
Materu said that Kyotera will benefit from the multi-billion urban planning project for Lake Victoria Region.
Addressing a stakeholder’s consultative workshop on the future of Kyotera Town at High Way Motel in Kyotera town recently, Matero said that 25 million people who depend on Lake Victoria in East Africa have turned into a threat to the lake.
He said that the massive pollution of Lake Victoria by the surrounding population has prompted the UN Habitant and the respective governments in the region to support various initiatives aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.
Matero said that 10 interventions have been established by the UN Habitant and the local governments to address the problem so as to save Lake Victoria .
They include Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation, City development strategy, sustainable urban mobility and a pilot banana drinks preservation and packing facilities in Uganda and Tanzania.
Others are, City without slums projects, Jinja Municipality Housing Program and Urban Planning, Region Urban Sector Profiles, Lake Victoria Local Economic Development and the development of Toolkits and Training Packages that have potential to be applied in the Lake Victoria Region.
Participants who included local and opinion leaders and civil servants resolved that Kyotera town must be expanded to meet the new plan designed for the development of their urban area.
Ends
The United Nations Human Settlements agency also laments that KYOTERA Town in Rakai District lack a dumping site and a master physical plan.
Kyotera has been listed among the 30 secondary towns experiencing rapid urbanization at a rate of 3-7% per annum in East Africa according the Senior UN Habitant Consultant based in Nairobi, Jossy Matero.
“The rapid urbanization rate of towns without proper plans has turned into a menace and are the main generators of pollution loads entering Lake Victoria ” he said.
Materu said that Kyotera will benefit from the multi-billion urban planning project for Lake Victoria Region.
Addressing a stakeholder’s consultative workshop on the future of Kyotera Town at High Way Motel in Kyotera town recently, Matero said that 25 million people who depend on Lake Victoria in East Africa have turned into a threat to the lake.
He said that the massive pollution of Lake Victoria by the surrounding population has prompted the UN Habitant and the respective governments in the region to support various initiatives aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.
Matero said that 10 interventions have been established by the UN Habitant and the local governments to address the problem so as to save Lake Victoria .
They include Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation, City development strategy, sustainable urban mobility and a pilot banana drinks preservation and packing facilities in Uganda and Tanzania.
Others are, City without slums projects, Jinja Municipality Housing Program and Urban Planning, Region Urban Sector Profiles, Lake Victoria Local Economic Development and the development of Toolkits and Training Packages that have potential to be applied in the Lake Victoria Region.
Participants who included local and opinion leaders and civil servants resolved that Kyotera town must be expanded to meet the new plan designed for the development of their urban area.
Ends
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)