Army officers from the water engineering and constructions brigade have camped at Oyitino dam (the main water reservoir) in Gulu to help dig a trench to link the reservoir to the nearby Oyitino, a stream.
The reservoir has dried up, effectively crippling the water supply for Gulu town residents. The National Water and Sewage Corporation (NWSC) says it is the first time that the water reservoir has dried up in 23 years.
Lt. Ahmad Hassan Kato, the 4th Division Army Public Relations Officer (PRO) said on Wednesday that at least 70 officers were involved in the emergency work to restore normal water supply in Gulu.
Lt. Kato says apart from providing technical works on the dam site, the UPDF is providing labour to dig a 1.5km trench to connect Oyitino stream to the reservoir.
The UPDF spokesman says it is not only the local residents are affected by the current water crisis but the 4th Division Army Infantry headquarters, a sprawling military facility.
The army publicist revealed the huge population in the 4th division barracks, including soldiers and their families is now relying on only two boreholes.
On Tuesday UPDF officers, were busy desilting the dam as well as burying dead fish which has made the smell around the dam unbearable.
Inmates from Gulu Central Government Prisons are working alongside the UPDF to dig the 1.5 km trench.
Paul Rachkara, the NW&SC Gulu Area Manager expressed optimism that normal water supply will be restored within five days.
Plans are also underway to restore two motorized water pumps already drilled in Onang and Mican, all within Gulu Municipality.
The two water plants are estimated to have the capacity to produce around 40,000 liters of raw water per hour.
Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the District LCV Chairperson revealed that as part of a long time solution to the water crisis, they will tap water from Karuma (River Nile).
Mapenduzi says the water project will be funded by the German government.
However he did not revealed when works on the water plant will kick off.
Water supply for Gulu residents has dropped from 2.3 million cubic liters of water to 1.5 million cubic liters in less than two weeks as a result of the prolonged draught. Residents have been forced to trek for long distances in search of water.
NW&SC supplies up to 4.8 million cubic litres of water to 139,000 customers.
Each month, NW& SC sells between 70,168m3 to 77,184m3 of water to its consumers in Gulu town and its surrounding.
