By Reuben Olita
Residents of Amagoro in Teso North Sub county have, for the past three days, witnessed an unusual “pipe burst” that has affected businesses of those residing near the massive water flow.
The area has experienced an accute water shortage that has spanned several years with the county government remaining mum over the issue, which has angered the residents.
Neema Hotel proprieter Viola Amai, a victim of the pipe burst, said she has lost many customers owing to water overflow that has made her hotel and residence impassable.
Ms. Amai appealed to the county and national governments to stop the massive water flow, which has adversely affected her business.l
” I have received no customer today owing to a burst pipe within my hotel, which has kept off customers who can’t access my hotel,” Amai added..
She added: ” A Chinese visited the scene today, but went away without telling us anything regarding the magnitude of the matter.”
In a quick rejoinder, Chief Officer for Water, Environment, Irrigation, and Natural Resources John Muroka said the water overflow was occasioned by a test run by the Chinese company running Malakisi- Malaba water project.
” The company working on the African Development Bank funded project instituted the test run to assetain the cubic metres per hour of water before it’s handed over to the county government of Busia,” Muroka said
The chief officer called for calmness by Amagoro residents saying water scarcity that has hit the area for several years will nolonger happen after the handover to the county government.
