NEBBI- Residents of Kei village in Jupangira Sub-county, Nebbi district are claiming back the land donated by a local primary school to facilitate the construction of a water treatment plant for Namrwodho gravity flow system.
The residents’ decision to demand back land belonging to Kei Primary School follows the disconnection of the school from the piped water system, forcing its pupils to wander in the villages in search of drinking water.
The community members say the Ministry of Water and Environment in 2013 agreed that the school under Universal Primary Education [UPE] uses water freely, having donated its land for the construction of a water treatment plant.
One of the residents, Nicholas Okello says he was present at the commissioning of the project when the then Minister of Water and Environment, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu agreed verbally that the school would use water free of charge as compensation for the land it donated.
“I was there when the minister said our school [Kei Primary School] would use water free of charge. We want our school to be given the opportunity to use piped water freely because the school donated land,” Okello said.
Another community member, Chellina Fualal said Nebbi district leaders have not been helpful in this matter despite receiving complaints from the community.
She said learners now walk long distances looking for drinking water after their school was disconnected from the piped water system.
“Kei Primary School gave part of their land for the construction of a water treatment so they should use the water free of charge,” she said.
The Headmaster of the school, Salmon Owektho Oyiki said lack of water in the school has forced some learners, especially girls to remain at home, adding that cases of diarrhea are common in the school because of inadequate water.
He added that Shs 1.5 million the school receives under UPE cannot foot the water bill and other administrative costs of a school with 940 learners.
“We need to be considered by both the Ministry of Water and Environment and to offset the water bill since we are not able to pay,” Owektho said.
Charles Cwinya-ai, supervisor Northern Umbrella of Water and Sanitation Limited, which currently manages Namrwodho gravity flow scheme, said they have no clearance from the relevant ministry allowing the school to use the water free of charge, much as it donated the land for the construction of the water treatment plant.
“We have written off the school’s water bill of Shs 500, 0000 but administrators have to pay Shs 20,000 for reconnection.
Nebbi district LCV chairperson, Emmanuel Urombi said verbal agreement in which the school donated must be respected by those managing the gravity flow water system so that its learners and staff use water without having to pay.
“There must be a fresh memorandum of understanding to be signed between the Ministry of Water and Environment and the school because it supported the water project by donating part of its land,” Urombi said.
https://thecooperator.news/kabarole-district-to-spend-over-shs-800mln-on-clean-water/
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