Kampala — The pit-latrine coverage in Kamuli district has increased from 46% to 76% in the past two years, the district health department has said.

"This is a significant move in the fight against diseases that are caused by poor hygiene and sanitation," said Alex Mulindwa, the district health inspector.

Addressing journalists at the district health offices on Thursday, Mulindwa said they launched a campaign to encourage people to construct pit-latrines in 2006.

He added that they used radios and patrols to mobilise the residents. The campaign was funded by the water department. Mulindwa said at the beginning of the campaign, some villages had no pit-latrines and residents would relieve themselves in the bushes.

"Bulungu village in Namwendwa sub-county had no pit-latrine and the residents had turned anthills into latrines," Mulindwa noted. The district health educator, David Mbadhwe, said the district council passed a resolution under which a punishment of six months jail term was imposed on those who did not have pit-latrines.

Mulindwa said they targeted having pit-latrine coverage of 90% by 2010.