Makerere III residents cry out over sanitation issues

31 December 2024, 1:54 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

The residents of Kalerwe, a suburb in Kampala’s Kawempe Division, are grappling with severe sanitation issues that are affecting their daily lives. The area, also known as Makerere III Kibe Zone, is plagued by large heaps of garbage, illegal dumping, and poor drainage systems.

According to the LC1 Chairperson of Kibe, Busulwa Sura, the lack of intervention from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has worsened the problem. The council’s failure to collect garbage and enforce restrictions on illegal dumping has resulted in the proliferation of garbage heaps, leading to health problems for residents.

Four young children and an elderly resident have reportedly contracted infections due to the garbage, highlighting the urgent need for action. Esther Naluzinda, one of the mothers, shared a heartbreaking story of how her baby developed severe diarrhea and had to be taken to a small clinic in the area. While the baby’s condition improved after treatment, the child now suffers from unexplained rashes, a condition that affects many children in the area.

The residents are also concerned about the Nsooba drainage channel, which connects to the main Lubigi Channel and collects water from across the city.

However, the channel has not been maintained for a long time, resulting in it being filled with soil, garbage, and sand. When it rains, the area floods, affecting businesses and homes. Residents claim that although the government has invested heavily in the channel, maintenance remains a significant problem.

The Kawempe Division Mayor, Dr. Emmanuel Sserunjoji Owedembe, responded to the concerns in a press conference, stating, “The channel is already being worked on with funds from the World Bank.” He explained that the project aims to address the flooding issues in the area, which are exacerbated by the poor drainage system.

Mayor Sserunjoji acknowledged that the garbage issue is a major concern, saying, “Kawempe Division has only four trucks to collect garbage, and the recent closure of the Kitezi dumping site has led to a backlog.” He assured the residents that a solution is being worked on and that the division has acquired three new trucks to aid in garbage collection.

Regarding the issue of toilets, Mayor Sserunjoji said, “Yes, it’s true that some houses have no toilets, and we are fighting hard to address this issue.” He explained that the division has constructed a public toilet, which will be opened soon, to provide an alternative for residents without toilets.

Mayor Sserunjoji condemned the practice of “primitive politics” by some individuals who are taking advantage of the situation to politicise the issues. He emphasised that the division is working hard to address the sanitation issues and that residents should be patient and cooperative.

In a dramatic turn of events, residents responded to the sanitation crisis by depositing garbage on the Northern Bypass main road as a form of protest. The move was aimed at drawing the attention of the authorities to the pressing sanitation issues in the area and demanding a clean and healthy environment.

Christine Namusisi Nantale, an elderly resident and representative of the elderly in Kibe, blamed local leaders for neglecting the community’s needs. She recounted her own experience of nearly being swept away by floods in the area.

The sanitation issues in Kalerwe are a pressing concern that requires immediate attention from the authorities. The residents’ cries for help must be heard, and solutions must be implemented to address the garbage, drainage, and toilet issues.