At least 2, 000 boreholes that were constructed with funding from government and other development partners in Acholi sub region are non functional forcing dozens of families to walk for hours in order to access clean water.
The water projects that cost around Shs50 billion were aimed at improving access to clean safe water sources for the resettling communities that were driven into the internally displaced persons camps’ during the peak of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led insurgency in the northern Uganda.
According to a new report released two weeks ago by District Water Officers from the six out of the seven districts in the Acholi sub region, 2,121 of the 4, 813 boreholes are not working.
In Pader alone, out of 860 boreholes, only 317 are functional.
Meanwhile, in Gulu out of the 1, 154 that were sunk, 267 are not in good working conditions, Lamwo, out of 711, a total of 311 boreholes are non functional.
Other districts which are equally affected are Amuru with 638 but 252 not working and Kitgum with 1,200 boreholes but 460 are non functional.
Though it is not clear how boreholes have broken down in Agago, reports indicate that 27 percent of the boreholes are not working. Gulu requires about Shs5 billion shillings every financial year in order to provide clean safe water to over 300,000 residents.
Due to the borehole breakdowns, at least 80 households in Awali village, Odek Sub County in Gulu district are sharing water with domestic animals.
Mr Simon Olam, the area LC I Chairperson says they are now forced to draw water from the streams and wetlands which they suspect are contaminated with animal fecal matter and human waste.
Olam says they fear that residents may catch water borne diseases since the water source is unsafe for drinking.
Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu District LCV Chairperson noted the problem has arose due to lack of updates on water facilities by the district water department data base.
Mapenduzi adds that there are 377 water points built at the former IDPs sites in the district during the peak of the insurgency but half of them have so far been abandoned as families resettle to their original villages.
Among the abandoned water points include 7 motorized water pumps, 151 deep boreholes, 60 protected springs and 163 water harvesting tanks among others.
Mr David Obong, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Water and Environment who was in Gulu two weeks ago was shocked to learn about the high figures of non functional boreholes.
Obong explained that, “Uganda plans to achieve 100 percent water coverage but the current figures stand at only 64 percent in the rural areas.”
According to the Permanent Secretary, government is yet to provide clean water for 36 percent of communities who live in remote areas.
Obong noted that, “District Water Officers should have been in the forefront of tracking water facilities and their condition so that the Ministry is aware of the problem.”
He also expressed frustration saying as government plans to provide water for the millions of Ugandans who cannot access clean and safe water, others which have already been built are breaking down.
To solve the problem, Ministry of Water under the Directorate of Rural Water has so far trained 146 pump mechanics in Acholi sub region in a bid to solve the problem.
