BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT ATURA LANDING SITE RISK CONTRACTING WATER BORN DISEASES
Some of the fishermen with their boats at Atura Landing side in Oyam district recently. Photo by Ambrose Okai.
By Ambrose Okai
Oyam
Business operators at Atura Landing Site, Aber Sub County in Oyam district which is the key transit point are at risk of serious health challenges associated to inadequate sanitation facilities.
Atura landing site connects travelers from Lango and Acholi Sub regions to Mutunda Sub County, Kiryandongo District, and other areas via motorboats but the place has only one substandard pit latrine that serves the entire site which exposes businesspeople to waterborne diseases.
Mohamed Ayo, Vice-Chairperson of Atura business Community says the poor sanitation is blamed on the sudden closure of Karuma Bridge, which left the community unprepared.
"Actually, what is happening here now I can say is an emergency that caught us an aware. Karuma closure has brought big number of travelers to cross via Atura to Mutunda. This possess sanitation challenge since we have only one pit latrine," Ayo said.
Philips Mwebazi, General Secretary of Station Cell, Atura Parish, said they have made request to the sub county authority to construct standard latrines in the area. "We are praying to the sub County to come and construct for us latrine here because in one way or the other this place will improve sub county revenue. Currently, the population here cannot share this one latrine," Mwebazi explained.
Francis Angor, LC 3 Chairperson of Aber Sub County, promised to pass a supplementary budget for constructing a drainable toilet at Atura Landing Site as soon as possible. "Very soon we shall pass a supplementary budget and construct a latrine at Atura landing site because we want to see sanitation in that place maintained," Angor said.
The temporary closure of Karuma Bridge has boosted the boat transport business at Atura landing site. Boat transporters are now making between 70,000 and 80,000 UGX daily, up from 30,000 to 40,000 UGX previously.
Local authorities in Atura landing site reported that over 300 people cross to the either sides daily.
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