Kasese Drought Devastates Livestock and Agriculture

Kasese Drought Devastates Livestock and Agriculture

Kasese District is grappling with a severe water crisis and the aftermath of prolonged drought, both of which are endangering the lives and livelihoods of residents. The twin crises have highlighted the pressing need for sustainable solutions to address sanitation, agriculture, and environmental challenges.

Residents in Kasese Municipality, particularly in the Central and Nyamwamba Divisions, are struggling to access safe water for domestic use. Hard-hit areas like Kizungu, Kanyangeya, and Nyakasanga West have seen families resort to fetching contaminated water from River Nyamwamba.

Justine Kabugho, a resident of Kizungu cell, shared concerns about potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as typhoid. “We started facing water shortages in early December, and now many have no choice but to fetch unsafe water,” she said.

In Nyakasanga West, Esther Muhindo noted that tap operators have hiked water prices from 100 to between 300 and 500 shillings per jerrycan, forcing many families to turn to unsafe sources. Nyamwamba Division Chairperson Pimako Kasereka warned that the crisis could disrupt school operations when they reopen next month if the shortage persists.

To address the problem, Andrew Muhumuza, the Kasese Branch Manager for the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, revealed plans to finalize infrastructure improvements to tap water from River Kyanzutsu. He assured residents that this would increase the quantity of treated water available to the population, though he acknowledged ongoing supply challenges.

The district has also suffered from an extended drought that claimed 700 cows in 2024, according to Dr. Yusuf Kibaya, Kasese’s District Veterinary Officer. The worst-hit areas include Nyakatonzi, Karusandara, Lake Katwe, and Katwe-Kabatoro Town Council. Over the past five years, more than 3,000 cattle have perished due to drought conditions, putting immense pressure on the district’s predominantly livestock-based economy.

Dr. Kibaya stressed the urgency of mitigating future losses by adopting better agricultural practices such as silage preparation to preserve essential nutrients for livestock during dry spells. He also highlighted the impact of the drought on the Parish Development Model (PDM), where 70% of beneficiaries rely on animal rearing as their primary livelihood.

The dual crisis underscores the growing challenge of climate change, with rising temperatures and increasingly frequent droughts wreaking havoc in the region. Dr. Kibaya called for urgent reforestation efforts to combat climate change and restore the environment. “We need to plant more trees to restore nature and secure a sustainable future for our communities,” he emphasized.

As Kasese battles these challenges, residents and officials alike are calling for both immediate relief efforts and long-term strategies to build resilience against future crises. The combined impact of water shortages and climate change threatens not only public health but also the region’s economic stability and food security.

 

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