By;
Phiona Kemirembe,
Hanifah Nakiganda
Tendo Mebra
Namiyingo Immaculate
Traders and Residents of Makerere Kikoni decry the danger of continuous flooding of Makerere Kikoni Stream channel which they said is due to poor disposal of garbage within the channel.
kikoni stream garbage
The community hosts a number of institutions including though not limited to; churches ie United Christian Center, schools ie. Innerman Pre and Primary School, Makerere West Valley Primary School and a chain of businesses.
In an exclusive interview with Mr. Natujuka Samuel, the Deputy Head teacher of Innnerman Pre and Primary School, it is revealed that the stream affects the residents as it blocks the pathways, making the area inaccessible, which directly affects the pupils going to school and customers from accessing the nearby businesses.
Natujuka adds that the stream carries along with it garbage, polythene bags, human waste which all promote ill health.
Natujuka now raises an alarm over the health risks faced by school children every rainy season because of the poor hygiene and sanitation which results into malaria and water bone diseases like cholera, dysentery and typhoid.
The place lacks safe water and the available shallow wales are contaminated with the sewage released by the residents with in the stream during rainy seasons
The Deputy Head teacher decries the heavy expenses the school incurs to meet its responsibilities especially in providing safe drinking water to pupils a safe water drinking point.
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Irahari Christopher A resident trader who runs a mobile money business by the sides of the stream, says they suffer extreme losses each time it rains as the stream floods over into the business destroying the other trade items in their kiosks.
According to Mugume Abu, a boda boda rider at Makerere Kikoni stage says that KCCA should help them to construct and clean the stream because it disturbs them mostly when it rains yet they have to work.
One of the KCCA employees charged with cleaning part of the stream, says the the greatest challenge is under payment which affects their livelihood.
The employee who preferred anonymity for safety of his job adds the place has no specific sewage management system with residents having shoddy toilets.
The channel flows from Kiwunya zone in Nankulabye through the wetland belt of Makerere Kikoni on its way to Bwaise swamp .it is also regarded as a life line by pastoralists since it is the only source of water that is within the area that waters the animals ,crops and people even when its dry season .
The area has no designated places for dumping garbage, giving the residents an opportunity to dump in the drainage channel.
END.
