Cholera is here and it could be for quite some time. The ratio of latrines per person and attitudes are evident the battle to eradicate the vice will be a hard one to win. This is most evident in Kabowa, which is most hard hit.
Statistics from Uganda bureau of statistics indicate 79% of the population visit latrines while for 3.5 Ugandans, open defecation is their alternative. In Kabowa, as area defense person reveals, the writing for cholera was on the wall .
Sekayiza Umar, Defense Sembule B, reveals that, "We have 20,000 people here but we only have 100 latrines many of which are even full and not in use."
He wonders, "Will you blame them? Latrines are scarce resources here. Users seek alternatives to beat the traffic."
The alternative he is talking about is residents use buckets and plastic bags in the night, and at 5am the residents dump these in the Nalukolongo channel
Kabatongo Juma, resident and area councillor, says latrines are hard to maintain because, "This area is swampy so we need KCCA to teach locals how best to construct here."
The residents however, point to area member of parliament Kato Lubwama for the dire standards.
The units available needless to mention are short of desired standards.
According to the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), a latrine is supposed to be dug at least at depth of 3 meters, 1.2 meters’ wide and 1.5 meters above water table. Few latrines in Kabowa hew to this standard.
There is, however, hope as Benny Namugwanya reveals that government has received a 14 billion to construct about 300 toilets in Kampala
With 17 cases admitted with cholera symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, the ministry of health has confirmed 7 cases of cholera and one death since the outbreak
