In Kikuube, water scarcity forces family members to bathe in shifts

Families must trek nearly 3km to fetch stagnant, foul-smelling water from unreliable sources within the town council.

Residents of Kizinga Kaina village, Buhimba Town Council in Kikuube District, are bathing in shifts due to severe water scarcity.

Families must trek nearly 3km to fetch stagnant, foul-smelling water from unreliable sources within the town council.

Muhumuza Mpanimanya, the deputy mayor of Buhimba Town Council, notes that the scarcity has led to social issues, with girls falling prey to men while fetching water, and families facing turmoil as husbands accuse their wives of infidelity when they return late from fetching water.

Evas Kabakurungi, a resident of Kizinga Kaina village, laments the lack of access to clean water. She has lived in the village for fifty years and says that long treks to fetch water have been a way of life for generations.

“I’ve lived here all my life, walking long distances to fetch water. My children did the same, and now my grandchildren do it too," Kabakurungi said.

"The water is stagnant and smells bad, but we have no option. When we cook with it, the food sometimes changes colour, and our husbands refuse to eat. We only get some relief during the rainy season when we harvest rainwater.”

Another resident, Gerald Kaija, who is nearing 65 years old, shares a similar story. He notes that families have bathed in the same poor-quality water for as long as he can remember.

“Our wives walk far to fetch water, and when we bathe, the smell lingers, making us feel like we haven’t bathed at all. Unfortunately, many girls have been taken advantage of by men along the way,” Kaija remarked.

Mpanimanya further explains that due to the water scarcity, families have resorted to bathing in shifts.

“When people must travel such long distances for water, they find ways to manage. Many families now bathe in shifts—if the husband bathes on Monday, the wife bathes on Tuesday, and the children on Wednesday. Imagine living like that, especially for those who need to go to work. Our appeal to the government is to provide us with modern water sources,” Mpanimanya said.

In a partnership with the United Arab Emirates, the Itaza Development Foundation has secured funding for the drilling of eight boreholes in Buhimba.

However, Buhaguzi East Member of Parliament, Stephen Asera, notes that while the initiative is a step in the right direction, it’s far from enough to address the water crisis in the district.

“Eight boreholes in Buhimba Town Council are a good start, adding to the 49 boreholes already in Kikuube District. However, the demand is still immense. With the population size, 57 boreholes are just a drop in the ocean. We appeal to any partners who can help, as the water people are drinking is so bad that you feel sick just thinking about it,” Asera said.

He added that many residents frequently fall ill, but they have no choice but to continue using the contaminated water.

“The best solution is prevention. Even if people boil this water, it’s still unsafe. If we could secure clean, safe water for these communities, the number of illnesses would significantly decrease,” Asera said.