DEVASTATED FLODS OF BWAISE

 

DEVASTATED FLODS OF BWAISE

By Ainebyoona Immaculate 

For over years, most areas of Kampala have faced with severe flooding due to unrelenting heavy rains leaving the local.  Bwaise in particular is one of the Kampala suburbs best known for flooding during heavy rains which makes it hard for business, households, and crossing the roads especially if you’re not used with the areas- you need someone to carry you.

The area is made up of four zones but the Bwaise name overshadows the others. It is divided into three parishes; Bwaise I, Bwaise II and Bwaise III with the total population approximate to 114500 people.

As a mitigation measure to heavy floods, in 2018 world bank funded Kampala Infrastructure Institution development Project II and the government of Uganda to build Lubigi drainage channel which costed over 80billion shillings. The drainage was later expanded in 2021 due to heavy overflows. However, this did not stop the water overflows in these areas which stills makes an alarming call.

Speaking to residents of Bwaise concerning how they swim through the situation, locals grapple with the increasing risks of their lives, homes and businesses. Some people say floods have increased with increase in population and poor drainage while others cite climate change and poor disposal of solid waste.

Hajjat Halimah Najjumah, women chancellor (Nnabbakyala) and a resident of Bwaise III Kalimali zone explains her 43years experience she has stayed in this area.

“I came to this place in 1980 when I was 15years, I know what it is called by Bwaise flooding. During those early days the area was not flooding like it does now, but the worse became worst with the increasing population-people started constructing on channels and water couldn’t flow normally again so it started flooding into houses,” says Halimah.

Halimah says that there has been a slight improvement with the construction of Lubigi drainage channel because water no longer overflows so much to destroy people’s property.

“Before government constructed the drainage channel, whenever it rained the entire house would be submerged under water- water would be on chest level of a grown-up, house floors would sink and we used to pour soil inside to fill up the sunk space. The channel reduced water that could fill in the houses however water still floods it takes long to dislodge such that we do our businesses,” she explains.

She however blames the recent floods to carelessness of individuals who dump solid wastes in outlets and inlets of the channel but also to Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) for delays to do drain maintenance on the channels.“

People are no longer responsible, they throw sacks of rubbish into the drainage and when these fill up with rubbish, they block the water making it stagnant. One offloads matooke and decides to dump the rubbish in the drainage,” Halimah says.

Lubigi water channel filled with waste. Photo/Immaculate

Towards the extreme end of Lubigi drainage channels, there is St Mary’s Heritage School. The school has enrolment of over 400 which is both Day and Boarding. Speaking to one of the school administrators, they have faced several challenges with floods.

Kimbowa Lameka, the director of studies (D.O.S) says that severally when it heavily rain, water overflows from the drainage channel and fill the classes. He narrates one incident when students’ books were completely destroyed by water beyond use and also how they incur charges whenever it rains.

“Students left their books in class so it rained at night, all books were destroyed never to be used again,” says Lameka.

“We managed to raise verandas and blocks, however when rain is heavy it overflows to class rooms. We normally hire individuals to scoop water manually, repairing of potholes in classrooms and the weakened walls which costs us highly,” he narrates. 

Unlike Kalimali zone where the drainage channel starts from, residents of Katongo zone which is toward the at the extreme end of the main channel still faces heavy overflows. Here, the level of the channel is on the same level of the land.

Kiberu Aisha, who operates a small business of pancakes expresses her worry concerning their lives and of their children. “Right here, land and channel are on same level when the drainage fills up, the destination of water is in our house, during rains people release sewage to flow and you know what it means. Whenever I get sick and go to hospital, I find that I have typhoid so I aske doctors how come yet I do not take un boiled water. Doctors tell me it is the environment I live in, there is so much dirt.” She speaks.

Meanwhile, Aeron Kiiza, CEO of The Environmental Shield- who advocates for nature and environmental conservation explains how deadly encroaching on wetlands has entirely landed Kampala city vulnerable to flooding.

“If we look at entirely centenary park, concrete was poured in the wetland, most hotels here are constructed in wetlands. Unfortunately, the owners are either untouchable government officials or people close to power-bribe weighs than peoples’ lives. When floods happen, the poor are vulnerable and suffer the negative consequences,” Kiiza explains.

He adds that there is also the effect of increased precipitation where volumes of rain are high and uncontrollable. 

Kiiza says that however much they have tried educating masses a lot is still needed from the government. He explains how some institutions like NEMA are putting in efforts but they are too small and scattered and partly government has failed to prioritize funding to this cause. 

“This is an emergence that needs special treatment but government is handling it drip and in unserious manner,” he says.