Mityana, Uganda – Communities along the shores of Lake Wamala are grappling with a deepening health crisis as residents in Butebi 1, Mawangala, Busuubizi, Banda, and neighboring villages are forced to drink dirty, unsafe water shared with livestock, sparking outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Families—many of whom travel long distances—have no option but to draw water from muddy ponds and the lake itself, sources that are visibly contaminated. “We boil this water, but it still makes us sick. We have no choice,” said a resident of Butebi, echoing the desperation felt across the region.
Local health officials report an uptick in cholera and dysentery cases linked to the contaminated water. With animals sharing the same water points, the risk of infection continues to escalate, putting entire communities at risk.
In response, Dr. Ssekikubo Jackson, Mityana’s Municipal Health Officer, has distributed 14 emergency water tanks to the most critical areas. But he admitted the intervention is only a temporary measure: “This is a stopgap. Permanent solutions like piped water are needed.”
Despite the clear health threats, residents say they’ve long been neglected. The crisis exposes deeper failures in rural water infrastructure, with many communities still lacking boreholes or access to clean piped water.
Local leaders are calling for urgent government intervention, with residents demanding boreholes or sustainable piped water systems. There are also appeals for NGOs and humanitarian agencies to step in and prevent a full-blown public health emergency.
