Kayabwe Town Council leaders and residents have appealed to Mpigi District authorities and area Woman Member of Parliament Teddy Nambooze to intervene in what they describe as a worsening sanitation crisis caused by the town's non-functional public toilet.
The appeal was made during a district security meeting convened by Mpigi District Chairperson Simon Peter Kawuki in Kayabwe Town to hear concerns affecting residents and businesses.
Kayabwe Town Council Mayor Zeddi Kasule told the meeting that the absence of a functional public toilet has become one of the town's biggest challenges, forcing residents and travellers to relieve themselves in inappropriate places.
"Chairperson, this is one of the biggest challenges affecting our town. Despite Kayabwe's growing population, we do not have a single functional public toilet. Residents and travellers struggle to find where to ease themselves," Kasule said.
He described the situation as an embarrassment for a town that hosts Uganda's famous Equator tourist attraction and generates significant revenue for Mpigi District.
"You cannot talk about Mpigi District without mentioning Kayabwe. We generate revenue through tourism and other businesses, yet we lack one of the most basic public services. That is unfair," he said.
Kasule warned that the lack of sanitation facilities has contributed to indiscriminate disposal of human waste in drainage channels, plastic bags and residential areas, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
He also questioned whether revenue collected from the town was being reinvested in essential public services.
Responding to the concerns, Kayabwe Town Clerk Michael Lutalo disputed claims that the town lacks a public toilet, saying the facility exists but is currently out of use because of an unreliable water supply.
"The public toilet is there, but it requires water to operate. Unfortunately, some residents vandalise the water system, making it difficult to keep the facility operational. We have made efforts to restore it, but the infrastructure is repeatedly destroyed," Lutalo said.
His explanation was, however, rejected by several residents, who accused the town leadership of failing to prioritise service delivery despite collecting taxes from businesses and residents.
Mpigi District Chairperson Simon Peter Kawuki acknowledged the sanitation challenge and pledged to engage the district's technical officials to find a lasting solution.
He said improving sanitation in Kayabwe should be a priority given the town's strategic role as a tourism destination and its contribution to the district's local revenue collection.
