Kabale municipality officials accused of turning blind eye on pollution of rivers

Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  Environmental activists in Kabale district have accused the municipality authorities of looking on as washing bays pollute two major rivers. 

The washing bays are adjacent to the banks of Kiruruma River which flows from Rubanda District through Kabale municipality and is joined by River Rwabakazi which flows from Katuna border.  The river then flows through Maziba sub-county and act as a tributary of River Kagera in Rwanda.

The washing bays have been established 20 meters from the river bank and oils from the vehicles flow into the rivers, whose water is consumed by residents. They operate without soak pits which are meant to drain dirty water from the washing bays to prevent it from running into open water sources.

Deo Oburye Mbabazi, the President of Assure Uganda, a non-government organization advocating for environmental and climate justice says that the oils and detergents that flow into the rivers are harmful to the residents. Oburye adds that since the washing bays lack places of convenience, car washers resort to using the rivers and wetland while answering nature’s calls. 

Victoria Abigaba, the Executive Director of Assure Uganda claims that the municipal leaders could have been bribed by the owners of the washing bays to keep a deaf ear. He says that the absence of soak pits at washing bays leads to contamination of water sources.

Milton Kwesiga, the Executive Director for Disaster Reduction Research and Emergency Missions, a voluntary non-profit organization says the activities of such washing bays are a threat to the environment and should not be allowed to continue operating. 

Emmanuel Sentaro Byamugisha, Kabale Municipality Mayor admits the dangers of the washing bays but says that the environment department was last year tasked to draft by-laws to regulate all car washing bays in the municipality. 

According to Byamugisha, the by-laws have already been tabled before the office of the Solicitor General for scrutiny. 

He explains that under the by-laws, all existing washing bays along river banks will be closed and those interested apply to operate in a gazetted area. 

Toboka Birugahare, Ambroze Akankwasa and Moses Birungi all car washers at Rwakaraba washing bay say that closing washing bays along river banks is impossible because it will affect their business. 

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