This archive report was first published on 29 June 2020.
Uganda, a country blessed with an abundance of water, has been facing an unusual problem: residents have been crying out for free water. But their wish has come with a twist - the water has been flooding homes and causing widespread destruction.
According to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), a tiny percentage of Uganda's water flows through its pipes. However, the cry for free water has nothing to do with poverty, as some of the country's wealthy individuals have been accused of stealing from NWSC.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Uganda earlier this year, residents began agitating for free water from NWSC. Their prayers were answered, but not in the way they expected. The water levels in Uganda's lakes, including Lake Victoria, have surpassed their highest recorded levels, causing flooding and destruction in many parts of the country.
As the water continues to rise, residents are facing a new reality: their homes are being flooded, and they are being forced to navigate the waters in makeshift canoes. The situation is dire, with thousands of homes being drowned and residents crying out for compensation.
However, President Yoweri Museveni has suggested that residents who encroached on public land should compensate the government, rather than the other way around. The government has shown compassion by not pressing ahead with demands for compensation, but the situation remains dire.
As the water continues to rise, residents are left wondering what the future holds. Will the heavens continue to send them water, or will the sun come out and bring a new set of challenges? Only time will tell.
