Residents of three villages in Katovu Town Council, Lwengo District have stormed the office of the Deputy RDC, protesting what they call illegal closure of their only reliable water source by a private landowner.
The angry residents, drawn from Kamazzi A, Kamazzi B, and Malongo villages, say they have relied on a natural well spring for over 40 years, a spring which they now allege has been fenced off and made inaccessible by a wealthy businessman.
They accuse the landowner of not only sealing off the spring but also closing community access roads leading to it, triggering a severe water crisis in their area.
“We no longer have water for home use and that for our animals . This is the only source we’ve known for decades,” said Winfred Mukinda, one of the village chairpersons who led the protest to the RDC’s office in Lwengo.
Mukinda explained that the spring, which lies within the affected villages, has historically been shared peacefully among residents without any disputes until recently when the alleged landowner Isa Musiitwa erected barriers and claimed ownership of the entire area.
However, Isa Musitwa, the man at the center of the controversy, insists he bought the land in good faith and was never informed that the spring belonged to the community.
“When I purchased the land, no one told me there was a public spring. Now they’re trespassing and even destroying my trees,” Musitwa said.
He also complained about livestock owners grazing their animals on his land without compensation, stating, “They don’t even give me milk, yet their cows freely feed on my land.”
In response to the tensions, Lwengo District Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Mary Jude Namuleme, cautioned residents to follow environmental laws and procedures before accessing natural water sources. She emphasized the need for permits issued by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) before utilizing such springs.
“Even if a spring is located on private land, no one should access it by force. There are legal procedures to follow,” Namuleme said.
She further advised the residents to handle the matter peacefully and lawfully, avoiding any form of vandalism or forceful entry.
Addressing the residents during the heated meeting, Deputy RDC Bonivencha Rwatangabo reassured them that the government is fully responsible for ensuring citizens have access to clean and safe water, regardless of where it is located.
“According to the Constitution, the government holds ultimate responsibility over water sources. No individual has the right to deny others access to water even if the spring is on private land,” Rwatangabo declared.
He went on to direct the residents to resume using the spring without fear, urging both parties to respect the law while government authorities investigate the ownership and environmental status of the spring.
His directive, however, left the landowner visibly displeased as residents celebrated the temporary victory.
The Lwengo District leadership promised to continue engaging both parties to find a lasting solution, while ensuring the residents’ right to clean water is protected.