MBALE CITY, Uganda – The World Bank and National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) are jointly implementing a vital river bank conservation and protection program in Mbale City and Mbale District. This initiative primarily focuses on River Nabuyonga, which originates from the slopes of Mt. Wanale.
Mr. Steven Masiga, the spokesperson for the Bamasaaba Cultural Institution, represented the institution at the launch of the second phase of the project, which aims to raise awareness about the program’s objectives.
Masiga commended NWSC for its efforts in protecting river banks and its broader environmental conservation initiatives, including tree planting along major river banks in the Bugisu region.
Masiga also cautioned against the practice of open defecation and dumping human waste into water sources by some individuals, emphasizing that such conduct is culturally unacceptable among the Bamasaaba. He strongly discouraged bathing and using water sources as latrines, highlighting that these actions increase the cost of purifying water by removing pathogens.
Furthermore, Masiga advised on grievance redress mechanisms within the project’s implementation. He stressed that the cultural institution should be visibly represented in resolving project-related conflicts between implementers and the community.
He noted that the Chief Justice recently trained several cultural institution officials, including himself, and stated their availability to ensure that any conflicts are handled properly for smooth project implementation.
Facilitators at the project launch included representatives from the Mbale District Environmental Department, the Mbale NWSC office, and NACOPART, the implementing organization based in Senior Quarters, Mbale City.
The project’s core objective is water conservation through selected activities such as river bank protection and tree planting across Mbale District and Mbale City.
Mr. Wandwasi Badru highlighted that Mbale City receives its water from the hills of Mt. Elgon, but unfortunately, the water is often polluted, which significantly increases purification production costs.
