Dry Spell Hits Cattle Corridor by Vision Reporters

14 NEW VISION, Monday, August 8, 2016 REGIONAL NEWS Dry spell hits cattle corridor By Vision Reporters It is becoming common for floods to be followed by drought every year in some parts of Uganda. While measures are being taken to deal with such extreme events, there are areas where people have remained at the mercy of natural calamities. Water scarcity has hit Ntoroko district, which is well-known for cattlekeeping. It had plenty of water during the October rains, but the water dried up within a very short time. Anna Mary Tumwine, the Ntoroko Woman MP, said: “Most of the boreholes are not functional due to the low water table and cattle are dying.” She said the most affected areas are the sub-counties of Nombe, Karugutu, Butungama, Bweramule, Kanara and Rwebisengo. School children spend most of the time fetching water, according to Tumwine. In addition, pastoralists trek 25km to River Semuliki to get water for their animals. “During the dry season, pastoralists graze on the banks Pupils of Kinyasano Boarding Primary School gathering at a water source to fetch water. Photo by Caleb Bahikaho of Semuliki, which weakens the soils at the river banks and the end result are floods,” she said. Four years ago, the Government pledged to construct dams to contain the flooding during the rainy season and later use it during the dry spell. This is still in the pipeline. Ben Mutahinga, the district vice-chairperson, said the district loses about 50 head of cattle monthly during the dry season. “Some of the cattle markets have closed because farmers have nothing to sell. This impacts on the district’s revenue and the pastoralists,” Mutahinga said. Rukungiri Rukungiri district has also been hit by water shortage due to the prolonged dry spell that Residents of Ntoroko district fetching water from started in late April to date. an unprotected water point, which they share with Residents of Keirashya in Sembabule share dirty water with animals. The district water officer, Deus animals. Photo by Rogers Sunday Photo by Hanipher Namuwonge Tumwekwase, said most of the water sources have dried out. The district chairperson, practices and exposed families since childhood. She said they Tumwekwase said the Andrewson Katebire, said “It takes almost five hours for to water and sanitation-related have been walking almost shortage is not only in the shortage of water will diseases such as diarrhoea and 20km to fetch water. Rukungiri town, but the whole soon become history as the cholera. district. construction of a sh44b gravity pupils to get water from the Records at Sembabule district West Nile At Kinyasano Boarding water system has already indicate that water coverage in In West Nile, Bessie Ajilong, Primary School, the kicked off. only source which serves three the area is at 43%, which is the Nebbi resident district headteacher, Bernard He said the district has far below the national water commissioner and Eszrom Tumushangye, said the pupils already handed over the site coverage of 60%. Tumushangye William Alenyo, the Nebbi walk about 1km to collect water to the construction company neighbouring schools” Currently, only 34% of the district chairperson, last week from a protected spring. that will extend water from residents have access to safe commissioned eight boreholes He said since the beginning of River Kahengye to the rest of drinking water. at various water points which the term, they have not received Rukungiri water-stressed areas. Sembabule said the district has only two Hakim Mukiibi, the Mateete caused excitement among the water from National Water and He said a sh44b water Sembabule district water water sources; Kyogya swamp, sub-county chairperson, said benefiting sub-counties. Sewerage Corporation. project is expected to benefit engineer Dan Tayebwa said which is about 35km away the construction of valley The residents, especially He said it takes almost five a population of over 180,000 this financial year, they are from Sembabule town and dams will provide relief to women, said girls were hours for pupils to get water people in six sub-counties and planning to construct over Kakinga valley dam. the residents, who have been dropping out of school from the only source which one municipality. five valley dams in the sub- He said the valley dams walking long distances in because they had to sacrifice serves three neighbouring Katebire said the water from counties of Lwemiyaga, have so far been constructed search for clean water. their school time in order to schools. Kahengye will serve Kebisoni Ntuusi, Mateete, Mijwala and in Mateete, Ntuusi and As a result, the cost of water fetch water. “This has affected teaching sub-county, Kebisoni town Lugusuulu, which have a Lwemiyaga and they will soon has shot up with a jerrycan because pupils begin to fetch council, Buyanja sub- large number of farmers and extend the programme to costing between sh700 and Compiled by Rogers water from 5:00pm up to county, Buyanja town council, pastoralists. Mijwala and Lugusuulu. sh1,000. Sunday, Caleb Bahikaho, 10:00pm, leaving no time for Nyakagyeme sub-county, Tayebwa said the water Tayebwa said lack of access Evas Byamukama, a Hanipher Namuwonge, revision and homework,” he Rwerere town council as well crisis stems from the low to clean and safe water resident of Lwebitakuli, has Benedict Okethwengu and said. as Rukungiri municipality. water table in Sembabule. He has compromised hygiene experienced water shortage Gerald Tenywa.

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