Uganda: Crocodiles attack Bugiri women

20 June 2009, 01:32

Uganda: Crocodiles Attack Bugiri Women
George Bita
18 June 2009

Kampala — WOMEN in Bugiri district are usually attacked by crocodiles when they go to fetch water in Lake Victoria.

Bugiri is one of the water-stressed districts and its southern part lacks safe water, water state minister Maria Mutagamba has disclosed.

"The crocodile-infested Lake Victoria is the only water source available to the women who must ensure that there is enough water in the home everyday," Mutagamba said.

"When I went to Bukhooli South, I shed tears after seeing residents drinking dirty water from the marshy lakeshore habited by crocodiles. The underlying solid basement rock cannot allow for borehole drilling."

Mutagamba made the remarks while launching domestic roof water harvesting in Nabigingo village in Bugiri district.

She thanked the Network for Water and Sanitation (NETWAS), an NGO, for implementing a rain-water harvesting and management project in Bugiri since 2007.

"NETWAS, in partnership with the Uganda Muslim Rural Development Association, has set up 76 water trapping tanks on ironsheet-roofed houses in Bulidha and Buwemba sub-counties. The target is 240 tanks which could help save lives," Mutagamba added.

Bugiri district chairman Siraji Lyavala said the project helped to prevent numerous problems encountered by women when they go to collect water.

"Rain water is also safe and has helped the community do away with water-borne diseases."

Woman MP Justine Kasule Lumumba and RDC Margaret Kikomeko attended the function.