Students at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) have decried the lack of safe water for drinking in the university, arguing that it has exposed the community to health risks.
The concerned students launched a safe drinking water and good sanitation campaign on Wednesday that aims at installing water filters and purifiers in the university and the hospital.
Derina Atuhwere, a third year student and the President of the Integrity Ambassadors Club said that the campaign targets the vulnerable students who can not access safe water for drinking.
She said the water crisis was critically affecting majority of the students who cannot buy bottled drinking water every day especially during the dry season.
Those that cannot afford buying bottled water find themselves taking unboiled water directly from the water taps,” she said.
“If a student has no money, he or she cannot get water for drinking until they return home.
She however noted that the students could not wait for the university to make an intervention, and as such, they as students have decided to provide water filters and purifiers that will be provided to each faculty.
“That patient can end up contracting other diseases because some cannot afford buying bottled water every day even students some are incapable.
This project had been started before but it lacked support, so we decided to revive the project,” Amanjot revealed.
“It’s very absurd that such a big institution which has also a hospital does not have safe water points for vulnerable patients and students.