Residents and local leaders in Starch Factory Ward and neighbouring areas in Lira City have given National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) a two-week ultimatum to address a persistent foul smell from wastewater lagoons at Baronger Village, warning that failure to act could trigger protests.
The residents, who on Tuesday, September 1, petitioned NWSC through their local leaders, said the stench from the eastern wastewater lagoons along Kitgum Road has affected homes, businesses and restaurants, raising fears of a possible disease outbreak.
In a letter dated August 31 and received by NWSC on September 1, residents represented by Starch Factory ‘B’ and ‘A’ LC1 chairpersons Geoffrey Olap, Odongo Anthony alias Japan, the LC2 chairperson for Starch Factory Ward, Starch Factory B Cell LC1 Vice Chairperson Mary Okeng, and Owiny Daniel Obaa, alleged that untreated wastewater and industrial effluent was being discharged into the lagoon.
They cited persistent foul odour, pollution of water sources, increased flies and mosquitoes, possible harm to aquatic life and environmental degradation, as well as public health concerns. They also expressed concern that the odour had persisted for a long time and was entering homes and bedrooms. They said the stench had embarrassed the community before visitors and was affecting restaurants and other businesses. Some traders through Te-alok Market Vendors Chairperson Alyao George also threatened to withhold taxes if authorities failed to address what they described as deteriorating welfare conditions. They also warned that continued inaction could lead some residents to take the law into their own hands.
Okori Jimmy, the NRM chairperson for Starch Factory Ward, urged residents to remain calm, saying NWSC had initially been given five days to address the problem but later requested two weeks for treating the wastewater. Okori said the smell had made it difficult for residents to eat and carry out normal activities, warning that the community could be exposed to disease if the situation persists.
Lira City Council Speaker, Counsel Patrick Okwir, who accompanied the leaders to the NWSC office, said he had personally visited the affected area and witnessed the foul smell.
Okwir said the city would compile a register of cesspool operators to identify those illegally dumping waste into the lagoons. He warned that operators found dumping prohibited waste would be arrested and taken to police, saying some of them are not known to NWSC and could be contributing to the problem.
However, NWSC Lira Cluster Area Manager, Eng. Tukahirwa Gerazio attributed the foul smell to incomplete wastewater treatment caused by insufficient wastewater flow into the lagoons. He explained that inadequate flow affects the bacteria responsible for naturally treating wastewater, resulting in the strong odour reported by residents.
Eng. Tukahirwa said NWSC is working to restore adequate wastewater flow from the western lagoon by completing and commissioning a sewer lifting station whose pumping main was damaged after sections of the buried pipe were cut and removed during developments in some areas of the city. He also blamed some cesspool operators for dumping poor-quality wastewater, including oil, into the lagoons, saying even small quantities of oil can disrupt the treatment bacteria and worsen the smell.
The manager said NWSC would tighten regulation of cesspool operators, improve staffing at the lagoons, and deploy a full-time security guard to monitor and record waste dumping. He said the corporation would also work with the community to curb illegal disposal of waste.
Eng. Tukahirwa further said NWSC plans to introduce fish into the lagoons once adequate wastewater flow had been restored, arguing that the fish could help reduce the smell by about 50%.
The residents’ complaint has also been copied to Lira City Council authorities, including the mayor, Resident City Commissioner, environmental officer, police and other environmental stakeholders, with a list of affected residents attached.