By Eumu Emmanuel
In Oyam District, the Atura landing site in Aber Sub-county faces a critical sanitation challenge, exposing the business community to serious health risks. The site, which serves as a key transit point connecting travelers from the Lango and Acholi subregions to Mutunda Sub-county in Kiryandongo District, lacks sufficient sanitation facilities, forcing business operators and travelers to share a single substandard pit latrine. This issue raises concerns about the potential spread of waterborne diseases among the community.
The recent temporary closure of Karuma Bridge has intensified the situation. Travelers who previously relied on the bridge now use motorboats at Atura, boosting the demand for transport services there. This shift has resulted in increased earnings for boat transporters, with daily income rising from 30,000-40,000 UGX to between 70,000 and 80,000 UGX. However, the surge in traffic has heightened the need for improved sanitation, putting added pressure on the lone, inadequate pit latrine.
Mohamed Ayo, Vice Chairman of the Atura business community, highlighted the urgent need for sanitation facilities to match the increased activity. “The unplanned closure of Karuma Bridge has led to a sudden influx of travelers crossing via Atura to Mutunda, creating a sanitation challenge since we only have one pit latrine,” Ayo explained.
Phillips Mwebazi, General Secretary of Station Cell in Atura Parish, echoed these concerns, urging Aber Sub-county authorities to intervene. “We are appealing to the sub-county to construct additional latrines here because this site has the potential to improve sub-county revenue. Currently, the population here cannot share just one latrine,” Mwebazi emphasized.
In response, Francis Angor, the LC3 Chairperson of Aber Sub-county, pledged to address the issue by allocating funds for a new toilet facility at Atura landing site. “We will soon pass a supplementary budget to construct a latrine at Atura landing site to ensure the community’s sanitation needs are met,” Angor stated, underscoring the commitment to maintain and improve hygiene standards at this critical location.
As the situation at Atura landing site underscores the importance of proactive infrastructure planning, it also highlights the role of local authorities in ensuring that basic sanitation facilities keep pace with increasing demand, especially in high-traffic areas like Atura.
