A water crisis has gripped Mbarara City, leaving many residents struggling to access clean water for days.
The persistent shortage has been attributed to recurring power outages that have severely affected operations at the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC).
Despite taps being installed in most homes and communities, residents across Mbarara are spending hours—and in some cases, days—without water.
Areas like Karugangama and Kashanyarazi have seen taps run completely dry, further deepening the frustration among locals.
“Talking about water leaves me speechless—it’s just too much,” said a resident of Karugangama.
“We don’t have water at all. That’s why we’re forced to travel long distances to look for it. Our jerry cans are wearing out because of this. As the people of Karugangama, we pray that we are considered. Even if they gave us water for just one week so we could fill our tanks, it would help," noted another resident.
For those who manage to receive water, it’s often a faint trickle, arriving sporadically and mostly during the night—forcing families to wake up in the early hours to fetch what little is available
As a coping strategy, many households have turned to tank water vendors who move from one neighborhood to another. However, this has become a costly option for most families, pushing some to fetch water directly from River Rwizi.
“When we complained to NWSC, they told us that water is supplied in phases across different parts of the city,” noted a resident from Rwemirinzi.
“For example, when Katete has water, Kamukuzi is off for hours. So, when we don’t have water, it means it’s being directed elsewhere.”
“In Katete, I walked to over 15 taps looking for water but failed,” said Alex Musinguzi.
“Eventually, someone referred me to a place where I finally got some. But because water is so inconsistent, people sometimes sell tank water for shs1,000 s per jerrycan,” noted Musinguzi.
NWSC General Manager for Mbarara, Denis Muramuzi, says several areas including Kakoba, Koranorya, Mbaguta Cell, and Katete are experiencing severe water shortages due to power failures that have crippled water pumping and distribution across the city.
“Every time power goes off, it affects us at the plant. We can’t pump water from the river, treat it, or distribute it to your homes without power," Muramuzi noted.
Muramuzi is now calling on authorities to prioritize the protection of River Rwizi, which remains the city’s main water source.
The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited has acknowledged the power supply issues and says efforts are underway to restore consistent electricity to critical service