Conan Businge And Francis Kagolo
5 November 2007
Kampala — KAMPALA city and its suburbs yesterday entered the fourth day without water, following bursts of water pumps on Kampala and Jinja roads.
In a press notice, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, said the 14-inch diametre steel pipe supplying areas of Jinja Road, and a two-inch diametre pipe on Kampala Road burst on Friday, cutting off water supply to the city its suburbs.
The affected areas are those on Bombo and Gayaza roads, and Jinja Road up to Mukono.
When The New Vision toured areas in Kawempe-Maganjo, a 20-littre jerrycan of water sold at sh1,000. In Nakawa, the same container went for sh500, Ntinda at sh400 and Gayaza, sh600.
The national water authority said repairs had been delayed by the many pipe interconnections at Centenary Park and other infrastructure like electric cables close to the pipes.
"The situation was further delayed by a whole day shutdown of Ggaba waterworks on Sunday, due to installation of a second 10/14MVA transformer by UMEME to enhance power supply at the substation," said the notice.
In Makerere University, the water shortage prompted a riot by students of Mitchell and Nkrumah halls. The riot that ran for over four hours, started at 6:00am.
Students blocked Pool Road and hurled stones at motorists. Four vehicles were destroyed. The whole university's water reservoirs had run dry, including that of the administrative blocks.
Most university toilets remained unflushed. "We are not animals to live in such a filthy environment. This is unfair to us," said a resident of Mitchell hall.
Despite pleas from the dean of students, John Ekudu, the students went ahead with the riot.
"It is not only this university which is affected. We know how dangerous it is to live in a dirty environment," Ekudu said.
It took the intervention of the Police from Wandegeya under the command of DPC Godson Nsekanabo, to quell the situation.
By 11:00am, the Police were ferrying water to the university in tank vehicles.
The Kampala Extra Police spokesperson, Simeo Nsubuga, at a press briefing blasted the university authorities for failing to plan properly.
"Whenever those students riot, they rush to us. This is not our mess. It is theirs."
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