The Members of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) under the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus have tasked the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) to address water scarcity challenges in their constituencies.
The MPs reported that they lack services of National Water in some of their constituencies whereas others have stalled water projects, something which negatively depicts the ruling party.
The caucus chairperson, Robert Migadde Ndugwa, the Buvuma Constituency MP said being members of the ruling party, sometimes their electorates get them off-guard when they ask for information regarding some of the government projects in their constituencies and they cannot explain due to lack of information.
“Therefore, it’s the reason we have tasked NWSC to take us through all the projects it’s carrying out in Buganda region including those that were concluded, the ones in pipeline and others which have stalled for some time now, beyond the stipulated time for their completion,” he said.
This was during the MPs visit to Katosi Water Treatment Plant on Friday. The plant which cost sh311,354m (82m euros) with the current production capacity of 240,000m³ litres per day was recently commissioned at Katosi in Mpunge sub-county, Mukono district.
Migadde noted that unlike the opposition MPs who want to capitalize from the failing government projects, those from the ruling NRM party get credit when things are moving in the right direction.
He however said that though they boast of being the ones in government, with an upper hand even when it requires meeting the President, some of them come from constituencies which are so lacking when it comes to a number of government projects.
“We therefore resolved to start visiting government agencies like NWSC, asking to be updated on how all of our constituencies are benefiting from them. We intend to get answers to the many questions from our electorate when it’s not too late,” he said.
The MPs who were in the company of the State Minister for Water, Aisha Ssekindi, inspected the Katosi Water Treatment Plant.
Earlier, they all planted trees at the showers of Lake Victoria and later convened to hear from Eng. Johnson Amayo, the NWSC deputy Managing Director in charge of technical services who took them through all the projects which the corporation has undertaken in the central region.
Eng. Amayo said that among the magnificent projects, the corporation boasts of, is the Katosi Water Treatment Plant which addressed water scarcity challenges in Kampala Metropolitan Area, the Lyantonde Water Project which is going to supply water to Lyantonde and that they are looking at getting water from it to be extended to Rakai district plus some parts of Lwengo district.
“Kalungu water supply project where we are getting water from R. Katonga and the plant has a production capacity of 4.5m litres at a cost of sh15. At Kyankwanzi, we are getting water from R. Mayanja and its production capacity is 4m litres at a cost of sh9bn,” he said.
He added: “For Kapeeka, we completed the first phase which produces 2mltrs per day and the second will be producing 5mltrs. Kapeeka supplies Kapeeka township, Bukomero in Kiboga district and in future, it will also be in position to supply Nakaseke. We are now handling Masaka, where we are to get water from L. Victoria at bukakata and we shall be pumping the water to the tanks at Kako Hill. Upon completion, it will be supplying water by gravity.”
Eng. Amayo however highlighted a number of challenges which are affecting their works including; the increasing costs of doing business following the global economic crisis, lack of electricity in some parts of the country.
“For example we have already finished the Lyantonde project but it is not yet functional due to lack of electricity,” he said.
He also highlighted the high rate of pollution to the water bodies, something which raises the cost of water treatment.
The State Minister for Water, Ssekindi said they are to engage the Ministry of Energy to see how the two can work together for the smooth running of their businesses.
Mukono South Member of Parliament, Fred Kayondo, though he is from the Democratic Party, he made a courtesy call to welcome his fellow members of parliament in his constituency, before leaving, he showed dismay to National Water for hoodwinking his electorate when they promised them water over two and a half years now when they could not fulfil the promise.
“It’s so unfortunate for the people in Katosi for continuing with water scarcity challenges yet the plant which was built in their locality, with pipes passing through their land supplies the clean water to the people of Kampala!” Kayondo said.
In response, Eng. Mahmood Lutaaaya, the NWSC manager in charge of Kampala said they have been affected by the inadequate funds which came up after the budget cuts by the government, something they do not have control of.
For some MPs who complained that they do not have services of National Water however much they have town councils, Eng. Amayo said that they only work in areas which were gazetted for them.