Masaka City residents grapple with clean water scarcity

Despite Masaka City's recent upgrade in status, residents in the newly incorporated areas from Lwengo and Kalungu Districts find themselves grappling with a pressing issue of the lack of access to safe drinking water.

Many areas which are now part of Masaka City continue to rely on shallow wells, a situation that directly contradicts health standards due to the questionable cleanliness of the water.

Nagagya Iren, a resident of Misaali village carved out of Mukungwe sub-county and integrated into Masaka City, sheds light on the challenging conditions.

She says while some parts of the city have water taps, a significant portion lacks the luxury of flowing water.

Faced with this predicament, residents, including those in Misaali Village, are compelled to fetch water from unreliable wells and ponds.

Andrew Magoba, residing in Kingo village, which was incorporated from Kingo sub-county in Lwengo District, emphasizes that many sections of their sub-county remain untouched by piped water infrastructure.

The struggle for access to basic necessities extends beyond water, with reports of widespread electricity scarcity in numerous areas.

Amidst promises of improved services made by leaders during the city's expansion, residents express disappointment at the lack of tangible development in their regions.

Kitatta Ibrahim, the LC 5 for Lwengo District, acknowledges the territorial sacrifices made for Masaka City's growth.

However, he points out that the assurances made by Masaka's leaders are yet to materialize, leaving many communities without the promised advancements in essential services.

As Masaka City grapples with the paradox of its upgraded status and the unmet needs of its residents, calls for urgent attention to infrastructure development, particularly in water and electricity provision, resonate among the disillusioned populace.

The disconnection between promises and reality highlights the need for swift action to fulfill the expectations that accompanied the city's expansion