Water issues in Kicwamba sub county, Kabarole district have for sometime been a public outcry in spite petitioning local leaders to look into water challenges in the community. On 28th January, 2018 a team from Kicwamba sub county that included the Coordinator Kichwamba advocacy forum Mr. Gilbert Rwaheru, the chairperson sub county water board committee Mr Byembabazi John and Hon Kasaija Ronald a youth councilor representing Kicwamba sub county appeared live in the studios of Jubilee radio to mobilize citizens to team up and solve the water issue in the subcounty.
The subcounty has been having running water receiving from a gravity scheme and at the moment there are proposals to partner with Mid western Umbrella a water based organization in Uganda to take over the management of the scheme for effective water supply in the subcounty. Officials at the subcounty level as well as the district are divided on the issue of gravity management that is managed by the subcounty leadership. National water and sewerage cooperation an institution that supply water in Uganda also want to take up management of the scheme and now the public is hand tired because they do not know any of the bidding companies and they are not involved in meetings where they would be understanding them in terms of their services.
While appearing on ToroDev supported weekly radio program that is aired live every Sunday 8:00pm- 10:00pm, Mr Rwaheru Gilbert said the gravity flow scheme did not work well because citizens were not sensitized on how they can maintain it and as we talk now the water levels have reduced due to dry spells and villages are getting water in shifts something that has increased the existing water challenges in the sub county.
The chairperson water board committee said we need duty bearers at the Sub County and district to inform us and we convene a meeting with citizens in order to understand the services offered by these companies. For example a unit of water by national water and sewerage cooperation has 1000 Jerricans and costs between 1000/=- 3000/= (one thousand & three thousand shillings. Our people failed to contribute 1500/= (one thousand five hundred shillings) a month for maintenance of the gravity, how then will they be able to pay 3000/=? It is important that duty bearers involve community members in sensitization meetings to understand these companies and make a decision other than forcing them what they do not know nor understand.
‘’Government projects especially at sub county level lack proper monitoring and supervision hence failure in sustainability because local citizens are not mobilized to be part especially in early stages of project implementation, I urge community members to develop positive attitude towards supervision, monitoring and maintaining projects that are being implemented in communities & to develop a sense of ownership in order to improve essential service delivery’’, Said Gilbert Rwaheru, coordinator Kicwamba advocacy forum.
During the 2 hours, listeners participated through Sms and call-inns where 15 Sms messages were sent and over 30 people called in live to share their views and comments.
“Our water is coming in phases without knowing the schedule for the supply even, can our leaders please tell us what is happening and the plans you have to rectify the issues of water in our sub county?’’, Said Charles, a caller from Kagogo village in Kicwamba sub county.
“We need sensitization meetings to be done in our communities so that we can plan with the organizations coming to supply water, we need to understand them and the services they intend to give us before we agree to receive service from them. We request the Water board committee to mobilize these meeting as soon as they can’’, Said Paul Monday a caller from Karago in Kicwamba subcounty.
