RUKIGA, UGANDA – Residents in Rukiga District have demanded the government’s immediate intervention to end years of neglect and finally connect their communities to the national water and electricity grids.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The long-standing frustrations came to a head this week as locals in the three neighboring cells of Butobere, Nyakanengo, and Nyaruhanga, all located in Rutare ward, Muhanga Town Council, detailed the daily struggles caused by the lack of basic services.
Residents from the cells remain without a single electricity connection, even as power poles visibly line the path to their electrified neighbors. Compounding this energy neglect is a severe water crisis that forces the population to rely on a small, open stream known locally as “Akarindi.”
Resident Mr. Olishaba Syliverio recalls that it has been nearly two decades since the community last had clean water. In 2005, heavy rains washed away their reliable springs and left them destitute.
He confirmed that families currently rely on the exposed and uncovered Ahakigogo stream, a precarious source that forces them to risk waterborne diseases every time they fetch water for their children.
“We last had clean water in 2005, before heavy rains washed our sources away. Since then, we have survived on the exposed Ahakigogo stream, which sits in an open place with no cover. We risk waterborne diseases every time we fetch water, living in constant fear of what we give our children to drink,” Olishaba said.
Cue in: Syliverio on the crisis. RR
The LC I Chairperson of Nyakanengo Cell, Mr. Orikiriza Dimon, voiced frustration over being repeatedly ignored despite dispatching numerous letters and delegations to responsible authorities.
He lamented that the greatest injustice is watching electricity poles pass through their territory to energize neighboring cells, leaving his community in darkness while they beg the government to connect them to the grid already at their doorstep.
“We have exhausted every channel, letters and delegations, but all pleas have been in vain. What hurts most is watching power poles pass through our territory to light neighboring cells while we remain in total blackout. We beg the government to connect us to the grid already passing our homes,” Mr. Orikiriza said.
Cue in: Dimon on Electricity & Water. RR
Resident Mujurizi Ambrose highlighted the daily consequences of this neglect, noting that children have no power to study at night and families are forced to drink dirty water.
Nakora Nicholas, also a resident, issued an urgent call for immediate intervention, warning that without action, the community will continue facing outbreaks of hygiene-related diseases while living in constant fear.
They voiced deep concern that their area is consistently overlooked whenever service delivery is rolled out, describing a painful pattern of being erased from the map while others benefit.
Cue in: Vox pop.
Residents in the area continue their wait, and their appeal serves as a stark reminder of the pockets of communities that remain underserved, even as infrastructure development reaches their doorsteps.
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