KISORO: The General Secretary for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Kisoro Chapter Owen Ahimbisibwe has vowed to raise funds from the locals in Kisoro to purchase a garbage truck for the Municipality after the Mayor said nothing can be done about the piling garbage.
For weeks now, a number of social media platforms belonging to Bafumbira in Kisoro district have been up in arms over the Municipal authorities’ failure to manage waste material that has piled up along several roads in the municipality.
Mayor Richard Ndyana (NRM) says the municipality is facing a serious challenge of having two of its garbage trucks grounded due to mechanical problems.
Ndyana says at least one truck is back on the road, but it is not enough to have all the solid waste and bio-degradable waste collected for the entire town.
Ahimbisibwe says diseases resulting from Poor sanitation such as cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid and intestinal worm infections do not segregate those who support NRM, FDC or NUP but will affect anyone who comes into contact with such dirt.
A recent survey conducted by Makerere University alongside the Kisoro district health department revealed that over 90% of people living in Kisoro have intestinal worms.
Ahimbisibwe says vendors selling roadside food including chips and ‘Rolex’ are stationed right next to piling garbage, and filthy water.
According to Ahimbisibwe, a meeting has been scheduled for 10th March 2023 (Friday) where all concerned citizens are invited to share ideas on how to solve the problem of garbage.
He noted that people are encouraged to contribute whatever they can in order to buy a garbage truck on behalf of the Government so that work of cleaning the town can resume.
In August 2022, the Ministry of Local Government Rapheal Magyezi was quoted saying each truck costs approximately 338 million Ugandan shillings. This was during the handover of garbage trucks to 12 cities and municipalities including Entebbe, Lugazi, Busia, Tororo, Moroto, Kitgum, Kabale, and Kasese, while the cities include Soroti, Moroto, Arua, and Masaka, under the Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement programme project 2 (MATIP II)
Back in 2015, then Kisoro town council was recognized as one of the cleanest towns in the country.
In response, Kisoro Mayor Richard Ndyana said opposition has no mandate to lobby for a garbage truck on behalf of the ruling Government.
Ndyana says he understands the plight of the people of Kisoro Municipality and calm for patience and calm as the authorities work round the clock to solve the problem of grounded garbage trucks.
By Ambrose Kweronda
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