KCCA rolls out campaign to keep water channel clean

AL-MAHDI SSENKABIRWA

Kampala Capital City Authority yesterday launched a new campaign to get the city rid of waste mostly that made out plastic which choke drainage channels and cause flooding in the city.

The campaign which is sponsored by Century Bottling Company Ltd started in Namuwongo; Makindye Division and will see city dwellers  who participate in collecting waste like plastic bottles from channels get paid for the work. According to Mr Moses Mbubi Witta , the company human resource manager  a kilo of plastic bottles collected will fetch Shs300.

“Some of our products are packed in plastic bottles and we find it prudent to support such a project for the good of our customers and general public,” he said

Nakivubo Channel, the main drainage channel in the city which pours into L.Victoria was constructed to alleviate flooding in the low-lying areas of the city. However, the waste usually get piled up at points where wire nets were placed to sieve out the waste, thus causing flooding mostly in low-lying areas.

Although the over-flow results into flooding at various points of Nakivubo, Namuwongo, a Kampala suburb located near the mouth of the channel, is worst-hit.

KCCA executive director ,Ms Jennifer Musisi who presided over the launch applauded Century Bottling Company for the initiative and urged city dwellers to embrace it, saying it would create jobs for the urban poor as well as keeping the channels clean.

“We spend a lot of money on de-silting drainage channels and if residents support this initiative we shall overcome this problem,” she said

Mr Mbobi said although it was part of their social responsibility to have a clean city, KCCA should secure them land so that a similar project can be rolled out in the other four city divisions.

However, Mr Paul Luyima, a health expert recently warned that although the used bottles provide a source of income to the urban poor, they pose a health hazard.

Journalist

Monitor Publications Ltd

P.O.Box,1241,Kampala

E-mail:assenkabirwa@ug.nationmedia.com

Blog: www.ssealmahdi.blogspot.com

Mobile: +256-712-725557

“When I thought I couldn't go on, I forced myself to keep going .My success is based on persistence, not luck.”  Norman Lear