At least 48,000 households in Budaka District do not have pit-latrines, posing a health risk, a report has revealed. According to statistics from the health department for last year, the district health inspector, Mr Robert Ochola, said 72,000 people in Budaka have access to pit-latrines.

The district has 120,000 residents according to population statistics. Although the district intends to implement and enforce by-laws to compel each household to own a pit-latrine and a garden of cassava and planting trees in order to meet the MDGs, the district chairperson, Mr Arthur Mboizi, in an interview with this paper at the weekend, said low pit-latrine coverage and water scarcity have hindered efforts to improve sanitation.

Mr Mboizi said the poor pit-latrine coverage and unsafe drinking water contributed to the outbreak of cholera, dysentery and diarrhea as it has been reported in Butaleja, Pallisa and Manafwa districts.

"Most of diseases reported to the health centres in the district are preventable but due to laxity by residents to improve their sanitation and hygiene, it remains a big challenge," he said.

"Whoever thinks that I will bend and kneel for them to own a pit-latrine is definitely wasting time. The only solution is to begin digging it or else they will be arrested and charged," Mr Mboizi said.