BY AARON AINOMUGISHA. Environmentalists and other concerned stakeholders in Mbarara city western Uganda have attributed the terrible pollution choking River Rwizi to corruption, connivance and weak policies hindering several restoration interventions including operations against polluters.
Less than a month ago, locals around River Rwizi were affected by floods due to heavy rains that left over three people dead, bridges washed away and other destructions.
In separate engagements with RISE for Community & Media Empowerment-Uganda organization, several stakeholders disclosed that different interventions are frustrated by corrupt officials including some attached to the National Environment Management Authority-NEMA.
According to the Mbarara city town clerk Assy Abireebe Tumwesigire, there is a court case against Mbarara city council arising from its attempts to demolish Bridgenest Bar, Lodges & Restaurant near Katete bridge for polluting River Rwizi. Other polluting human activities like illegal sand mining, animal grazing, factories and other facilities directing the sewage/garbage into the river, motor vehicle washing and others are evident.
Environmentalists now want the State House Anti-corruption Unit and other incorruptible entities to intervene. River Rwizi is the major water source for estimated 300,000 population in Mbarara city, factories and other facilities yet it continues to be one of the greatly endangered rivers in the Nile Basin, crossing different districts in western and central Uganda, connecting with River Kagera up to Lake Victoria.
ALSO READ:CHOKING BIODIVERSITY: AT LEAST 18 PEOPLE KILLED IN 1 WEEK AS FLOODS & MUDSLIDES RAVAGE WESTERN UGANDA https://risenewsug.com/2023/05/06/choking-biodiversity-at-least-18-people-killed-in-one-week-as-floods-mudslides-ravage-western-uganda/
ALSO READ: ANGRY RIVER RWIZI SWALLOWS 2ND YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT AND 2 OTHERS https://risenewsug.com/2023/05/09/angry-river-rwizi-swallows-mbarara-university-2nd-year-student-and-2-others/
