By Alele Ronald
Oyam, Uganda – Vendors and residents of Adel Ward in Minakulu Town Council, Oyam District, are raising concerns over the lack of proper sanitation facilities in their local market.
According to the community, the absence of a functional toilet has forced many to resort to open defecation, putting public health at risk.
The issue came to light during the rehabilitation of the market’s only borehole, an initiative led by Patrick Ogwang Obura, a parliamentary aspirant for Oyam South, in partnership with Pioneer Evangelism Network Uganda.
The project successfully restored 16 boreholes in Minakulu Town Council, Aber, Loro, and Minakulu sub-counties, addressing water scarcity in the region.
Residents, however, highlighted that water access alone is not enough to ensure public health without proper sanitation facilities.
Abercan Gloria, a local resident, revealed that open defecation is rampant in the market. She raised concerns about individuals defecating near water points and in gardens, risking the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
Gloria appealed to Ogwang Obura and the Minakulu Town Council authorities to take immediate action.
Nancy Alobo, a vendor and resident of Awee Betty Trading Centre, shared similar sentiments, stating that the only public toilet in the market has been filled for over a year. As a result, vendors and residents have faced a growing number of waterborne diseases, including diarrhea.
Ronald Akol, the Local Council III (LC3) councillor for Adel Ward, acknowledged the problem and confirmed that constructing a public toilet at the market is part of the town council’s budget for the current financial year.
According to reports, over 16,000 people in Oyam District practice open defecation, indicating a widespread lack of pit latrines and adequate sanitation facilities.
The situation underscores the urgent need for government intervention and community-led initiatives to address this public health challenge