Residents of Kagugube parish in Katamanyangamba village have raised fears over the poorly constructed Kitamanyangamba drainage channel.
The Kitamanyangamba drainage channel that is over 100 meters long stretches from Makerere University to the Nakivubo main channel. It was first constructed by Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA after a child drowned in the channel two years ago.
However, residents note that even after the construction of the channel, the channel has become a death trap because it has recently been the cause of several accidents in the area.
Last month, Wilson Kyamanywa a resident in the area sustained injuries after falling in the channel as he tried to access his home.
Richard Asiimwe, a relative to the victim says Kyamanywa sustained serious injuries on the leg.
Darwin Ssebaduka, the LCI Chairperson, says the drainage is long and left open. He says that residents in the area who want to access their homes have to jump the drainage.
Ssebaduka also says that residents in the area dump garbage in the drainage channel which worsens flooding whenever it rains.
Doreen Kangume, a resident says leaving the drainage channel open increases the risks of people falling in or drowning during the rainy season.
Faruk Nsereko, one of the elders in the area says that whenever it rains, children are at risk because they like playing along this channel and some children in the neighbourhood have drowned before.
Moses Mugenyi, the vice-chairperson of Kitamanyangamba Village says that KCCA should cover the channel.
Brian Bagala, an engineer in charge of drainage at KCCA says that there is a lack of land to create an access road for the residents. He says that the only option is to demolish the houses near the channel to pave way for the expansion of an access walkway.
Kampala is faced with the challenge of flooding and KCCA is pushing for a proper drainage system through its drainage Master Plan. The plan involves the construction of Drainage channels, reducing storm water and establishing water retention ponds.
KCCA has been implementing the drainage channel system not only to curb flooding but also to provide safety for vulnerable communities living in wetlands. The constructed community drains to ensure that deep drainage holes are secured, and dumping of solid waste is deterred.
