DR HIGIRO SEMAJEGE (Lwemiyaga County, Masaka):
Thank you, Mr Chairman. I am
thanking you for giving me this chance to speak and also I am very grateful that our House has
known its responsibilities and we are really doing a good job. Because without this, I would not
have had chance to make a comment on the Communication from the Chair.
A lot was said and
that Communication is excellent in this way but there are a few points which needed to be
stressed and which were not as stressed as I would have liked.
Number one, is a question of life; and the life I am talking about is water. Water is life; without
water, animals suffer and die.
Man and other crops do not survive, Mr Chairman, we know that
in Uganda there are very many belts which are very dry but which are very important sectors of
our economy.
These sectors have periodic long draughts.
This has been known for very many
years, but it appears were still dependent on whether on chance.
You hear of famine
-
(Interruption)
MR OKODI:
Point of information.
Mr Chairman, while Uganda is endowed with plenty of
water resources, I want to say there is luck of planning on the part of Government.
I am saying
this because there is a famous Kacumu Water Works, which is feeding Lira town with water, a
distance of about 40 KM.
Between Lira Town and Water Works itself there are settlements and
therefore, people lure thirst for this water.
This water is just passing without catering for those
people who are around.
This is a very unfortunate situation.
MR ORYANG:
Point of information. Thank you, Mr Chairman.
I would like to give further
information to the Informer and the hon. Member holding the Floor.
The Kacumu Water Project
although outside Lira is meant for the Municipality but along the way the 42 KM run there are
tees, if you know what tee means.
There are tees that are blocked up waiting to be connected to
areas that are ready. The problem now is that the water is being paid for; it is not free of charge.
The service is to be paid for.
So, until and when the schools enroute - the centres enroute are
ready
-(Interruptions)
I was saying when the schools and the trading centres on the way between
Kacumu and Lira town are ready to pay for water there is no reason why they should not be
connected.
It is not true that no body is thinking about the Institutions enroute.
This has been
thought of a long time ago at the time of planning.
Thank you very much.
DR HIGIRO:
Thank you for your information.
I am very pleased that one of the Informers said
that there is water but we lack planning.
(Interruption)
MR MARWAS:
Point of order.
Mr Chairman, our Rules of Procedure are very clear and
Members, is the Deputy Minister of Local Government in order to come with his bag in the
Chamber?
THE CHAIRMAN:
It contains his documents. He is in order; please go ahead, hon. Member.
