KAMPALA – Kabarole District Woman Member of Parliament Hon. Pamela Annet Kirungi has pushed for urgent government intervention to address the persistent Bilharzia crisis in Kasenda Sub-county, prompting the Ministry of Water and Environment to commit to extending piped water services and rehabilitating the area’s gravity flow scheme.
Kirungi raised the concern during a parliamentary session in Kampala, where she asked the government to explain when it would provide safe and reliable piped water to residents who continue to depend on contaminated water sources, including River Vijongo.
She told Parliament that communities in Kasenda Sub-county have continued to suffer exposure to waterborne parasites, particularly Bilharzia, despite repeated mass drug administration campaigns aimed at controlling the disease.
The legislator expressed concern that the issue had not received adequate attention from leaders, noting that even during President Yoweri Museveni’s recent visit to the area, the critical water challenge was not brought to his attention.
In response, the Minister of Water and Environment acknowledged the Bilharzia outbreak in Kasenda Sub-county and assured Parliament that government had prioritised interventions to provide safe water to the affected communities.
The Minister revealed that the extension of piped water services to Kasenda Sub-county and rehabilitation of the Kasenda Gravity Flow Scheme had been incorporated into the Ministry’s Financial Year 2027/28 budget planning framework.
Government also pledged to continue implementing complementary water, sanitation and health interventions as immediate measures to protect residents while longer-term water infrastructure plans are pursued.
Kirungi’s intervention highlights the urgent need to address water access challenges in Kasenda, where communities have continued to face health risks associated with reliance on unsafe water sources.
The proposed piped water extension and rehabilitation of the gravity flow scheme are expected to provide a more sustainable solution by reducing dependence on contaminated water sources and improving access to safe drinking water.
The legislator’s appeal places renewed focus on the responsibility of government to ensure that communities in Kabarole District have access to safe water as part of efforts to prevent waterborne diseases and improve public health.
