Poor sanitation at Mahyoro landing site worries Kitagwenda authorities

Authorities and locals  in Kitagwenda District  have expressed fear of a possible Cholera outbreak due to poor sanitation levels at Mahyoro Landing Site.

This crisis, partly caused by  inadequate sanitation facilities has left nearly 2,000 residents vulnerable to cholera.

Concerns have escalated as locals report using makeshift waste disposal methods, threatening to contaminate Lake George, the area’s main water source.

The community currently relies on a two-stance pit latrine, constructed by NGOs Join for Water and Joint Effort to Save the Environment (JESE).

However, the latrine has fallen into severe disrepair.

"We have no choice but to use this dilapidated latrine because there’s no other option,” explained one fisherman.

Another latrine, built by the Ministry of Water and Environment under the Leaf Project, is primarily reserved for visitors, leaving the rest of the site’s population underserved.

Mahyoro Landing Site Chairperson, Yiga Atidu voiced his frustration, describing the sanitation issue as a public health hazard.

“This landing site is home to about 2,000 people, yet we only have one toilet,” Atidu said.

“People have started using polythene bags to relieve themselves, which are then dumped into the lake.”

This contamination risks a cholera outbreak, especially with the onset of the rainy season when waterborne diseases are more likely to spread.

Moses Mushabe, the Deputy District Speaker and Male Councilor representative for Mahyoro Town Council, stated that he had previously raised the issue in the district council, only to have his concerns sidelined.

“I brought up the need for more latrines, but unfortunately, the matter was not treated with the urgency it deserves,” he said, adding that he would continue to press the matter given its critical importance.

Town Clerk of Mahyoro, Pius Mugisha, confirmed that the district recognizes the urgent need for more sanitation facilities.

“We recognize that there is an urgent need for more latrines, and we plan to construct a new public latrine during the 2024/2025 financial year to help ease the sanitation crisis,” he stated.

In the meantime, Mugisha urged residents to dispose of waste properly to avoid further health risks.

“People should avoid defecating or dumping waste indiscriminately, as this increases the risk of disease,” he advised, emphasizing the dangers of unsanitary practices to the community’s health.

Residents and local leaders are now calling on district authorities to act swiftly to prevent a potential cholera outbreak.