Archive for category: Nebbi District

Nebbi. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation [NWSC] Nebbi area has linked the current water crisis in Nebbi town to the project design which was meant to serve Nebbi’s small urban population.

The area NWSC Engineer Nebbi, Eng Kenneth Rukundo admitted that the unreliable water supply in Nebbi town is caused by small distribution pipes that the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Environment designed some years back to supply water to a smaller population.

“If water is to be supplied constantly, the whole water system must be changed to meet water demands in the growing town,” said Rukundo.

Nebbi town was amongst the three small towns namely; Apac, Paidha and Pakwach in the country that government constructed clean and water plant under small town water and sanitation project in 2008 to address the alarming challenges of clean water coverage in small towns, but the design is being overwhelmed by the rapid population growth which needs to be changed.

He said, due to the increasing demand of water from water consumers in the growing town and outside town, this has forced NWSC to cover the areas of 273 km beyond their capacity to supply communities hence overwhelming the designed project.

The current households connected with piped water stands at 3221 while the monthly consumption of piped water stands at 44315 cubic meters meaning that, if the pump is boosted, the supplies will have to increase by 50 percent.

He also said, to respond to the unreliable water supply that the current growing population in Nebbi is facing, NWSC is planning to install the rapid sand filter pump from slow pump sand filter to meet the current water demand in Nebbi town.

“The slow sand water pump filter was meant to pump water to a smaller population but currently the pump can’t distribute water to meet the overwhelming needs of the population because of its capacity and there’s need to install the rapid sand water filter pump if we are to have constant water supplies,” Rukundo said.

He adds that, NWSC is being faced with a number of challenges of mechanical breakdown of machines and unreliable electricity power to run the heavy pumps to distribute water to cover areas mapped by NWSC for water supplies.

According to residents, the unreliable water supplies in town has forced the entire population to spend much of their time walking long distances to look for water from rivers for domestic use.

Some Hotels and school owners who largely depend on piped water to conduct their businesses since they are the biggest water consumers, have resorted to hiring tukutuku riders to fetch water from rivers due to inconsistent supply of piped water in these dry spells.

Olangi Geoffrey, one of the residents of Kasuku cell in Abindu division, Nebbi municipality says, in order to access piped water from NWSC, a person must wake up at around 4:00am since during the day, piped water is unavailable.

He adds that the situation is more challenging during school time, making it hard for mothers to prepare their children for school since they spend most of their time looking for water in this dry spell.

According to Olangi, the unreliable water supply in town is being caused by the extensions of piped water by NWSC outside Nebbi town to the nearby sub counties which were not in the design.

“The water plant in Nebbi town was designed to serve a small population but now NWSC extended pipe water beyond the recommended population designed “Olangi said.

Brain Rwothongeyo, a washing bay operator in Nebbi town says, since Christmas time, he has lost customers due to unreliable water supplies because they are unable to receive water for the whole day.

He adds that when piped water isn’t available, he spends Shs 500 per jerrican in order to serve the few customers who come to the washing bay and this has affected his daily returns.

The most affected areas in Nebbi town, with water challenges are; Kasuku, Angir and some parts of Laji, unjuku upper and Lower cells that are currently being affected with people queuing for water .

However, the Nebbi Municipality MP Hon. Hashim Suleiman said, water must be connected in all villages since bore holes which used to help the bigger populations before were condemned for use and decommissioned resulting in a water crisis.

“We have vulnerable members of the communities who can’t survive without water and if there is scarcity of piped water in town they are over charged,” Hashim said.

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Gulu – The leadership of boda boda cyclists’ associations in Gulu City are calling for an urgent intervention into the surging cases of armed robberies targeting their members.

A total of 10 motorcycles have been robbed by unknown gunmen within Gulu City and neighboring Omoro and Nwoya districts.

The stolen motorcycles include UFK 722Y, UFE 737 J, UFK 852 D, UFE 906 J, UFL 706 F, UFK 858G, UFJ 138 G, UFF 438 T, UFK 223 Y to mention but a few.

Francis Rubangakene, the Chairperson of Gulu East Boda-boda Cylists Association identified some of the victims of the armed robberies as; Innocent Opiyo whose wife was put on gun point and tasked to call him and upon arrival at his home in Aywee, he was hit by the burnet unconscious by the two-gun men.

The other victim identified as Ceaser Guna, a resident of Ongako who operates in Gulu City. He was attacked between Ongako primary school and the health center III by unknown men carrying iron bars and a gun before taking his motorcycle registration number UFF 438T. He is currently receiving treatment from St Mary`s Hospital Lacor, in Gulu City.

Rubangakene says, as leaders they have been called by the security leadership for meetings which has failed to address their insecurity concerns.

According to Rubangakene, cases of armed robberies have initially been reported last year but no serious intervention was carried out by gunmen.

“I want to appeal to the police and the UPDF to improve on their patrols within the City” Rubangakene notes.

Emmy Ocen, the Chairman Gulu West Boda boda cyclist’s Association said, seven of his members have been victims of the attack leaving three riders and one customer in critical condition at St Mary`s Hospital Lacor.

Ocen says, despite the fact that the riders are attacked at night, which is in violation of the 7 PM curfew, security officials need to do their work of ensuring that all Ugandans are safe.

“We understand that the president hasn’t allowed us to operate at night, but we feel the security officials not doing enough to protect Ugandans. Because how can you allow gunmen to move freely at night using motorcycles to attack us. We know the capacity of Ugandan government as far as security is concerned. Why aren’t they doing anything serious to ensure the unknown gunmen are known and brought to book?” Ocen asked.

David Ongom Mudong, the Aswa Region Police Spokesperson when tasked on investigations on the rampant gun related theft of motorcycles said, they arrested a prime suspect who is believed to be the mastermind behind the recent attack’s on cyclists.

“Following our investigations which led us to one, Denis Komakech, resident of Tegwana Parish, Layibi Central, Laroo-Pece Division where he has been hiding, we arrested him in the wee hours of Thursday today morning. We are currently hunting another suspect who’s name we are withholding for investigation purposes” said Mudong.

“During our operations in Tegwana, we recovered three pairs of UPDF army uniforms, a bunch of keys, car jerks, pips bearings the rank of a captain and other break in equipment. We will use these items as evidence against the suspect,” Mudong noted.

However, Asan Kasingye, the Political Commissar of the Uganda Police Force via his official Twitter handle wondered why the cyclists would be operating at night in violation of the presidential directives. He also noted that the matter is already under investigation.

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