Mbarara City Rwenjeru Ward in Dire Straights Over Water and Electricity Crises

Despite being situated in a growing urban area, the lack of basic infrastructure is severely impacting the community, which also serves as a hub for visitors to Lake Mburo National Park.

Residents of Rwenjeru Ward, a vital gateway to Mbarara City for travellers from Kampala, are facing critical shortages of water and electricity.

Despite being situated in a growing urban area, the lack of basic infrastructure is severely impacting the community, which also serves as a hub for visitors to Lake Mburo National Park.

The absence of piped water, reliable electricity, and well-maintained roads has left locals grappling with escalating health and financial issues.

Rwenjeru Ward, consisting of nine cells, has no access to piped water. Residents are forced to depend on wells and dams for their water supply, but these sources are heavily polluted and increasingly unreliable.

At Kyarutega Well, one resident, Alinaitwe Didus, described the grim situation: "This is the water we use to cook and feed animals. Even when you came, I was fetching water for bathing."

Unfortunately, Kyarutega is not alone; other wells in the ward are similarly contaminated. For those who can afford it, a jerrycan of water delivered to their homes costs 1,000 shillings, a burden many cannot bear.

Others trek over four miles to Kyarujungu and Akembongo dams, only to find that the water there is also tainted with animal waste and suspected sewage from the nearby Bihawre.

“The whole water is green, and it’s filled with animal waste,” lamented Dennis Turyamureba.

The consequences of this water crisis are dire, with increasing reports of typhoid and other waterborne diseases.

“Of late, all families are grappling with cough, typhoid, and flu as a result of this water, which is costly to treat,” expressed Sunday Vincent, a worried resident.

The sharing of water sources with cattle further heightens the risk of contamination.

The electricity crisis in Rwenjeru is another pressing issue that hinders local economic development.

The Kyarujungu demonstration farms, schools, and trading centers are suffering as tenants leave due to the lack of electricity, forcing some businesses to shut down entirely.

"We are grappling with electricity," said Florence Birungi, a local businesswoman.

"We have built houses, but there are no tenants because of the lack of electricity. Tenants come and go, and those who stay pay small amounts, citing losses they incur with perishables."

Local leaders regard these infrastructure shortcomings as a significant crisis. An elder in the community voiced their frustration: “As residents, we don’t have electricity. I appeal to the government to ensure these people get water and electricity because every cell in the city should at least have a clean water source and electricity.”

Joseph Gumisiriza, LC IV councillor for Rwenjeru Mbarara City North, added, "Most of the people here raise cattle and deal in cattle products, which requires electricity."

The challenges faced by Rwenjeru extend to its roads, particularly those leading to Lake Mburo National Park, which are riddled with potholes and ditches. This further isolates the ward, despite its importance to tourism and city access.

Local leaders are urgently calling for government intervention to protect residents' health and rejuvenate local businesses.

With communities suffering from waterborne diseases and enterprises facing closure, they are hopeful for a prompt response from authorities to address these critical needs.