Moroto Residents Walk 10kms to Access Clean Water
Godfred Eyoku
According to the Chairman, the situation has forced some people from the villages to share the dirty water sources with animals
In the continued efforts of regular hands washing as one of the prevention measures in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 [Coronavirus], residents of Arechek village in Nadunget Sub County, Moroto district have living in a crisis of water shortage in the area.
Lokoru Lokwakol, the LCI Chairperson of Arechek village told Aica that all the boreholes in his village have dried up while others broken and this has left the community in panic state, as government is encouraging the practice of hand-washing as a measure to stem the spread of COVID-19
“Residents sometimes walk for long distances of about 10km away from their homes to acces water from the neibiouring villages,” said Lokoru.
Lokoru said that all the boreholes which were drilled for them by some NGOs like Save the Children Uganda, broke down while others have dried.
According to the Chairman, the situation has forced some people from the villages to share the dirty water sources with animals.
Recently, the security officers were seen trying to enforce the presidential directive of social distancing amongst the people crowded at one of the taps at Nadunget Sub County.
Ms. Cecilia Nangiro, the Community Development Officer for Nadunget sub county, confirmed the problem saying that as a means of saving the borehole conditions, they had advised the locals to always collect money monthly for borehole maintenance than to wait till it breaks down.
She also urged the residents to be patient as the sub county looks forward to address the alarming problem.
Samuel Lokong, the Sub County Chief of Katikekile sub county, who also doubles as the chairperson of the sub county COVID 19 taskforce, reported to the district taskforce that many villages were hit by lack of clean water due to massive breakdown of the boreholes.
Mr. Musa Lowot, the Moroto District Water Officer says the district does not have enough funds to repair all the boreholes, adding that the administration has 16.5 million shillings to conduct emergency repairs, which will cater for only 13 out of 43 boreholes.
The Moroto Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Charles Kumakech, has told Aica that the district will use associations of hand pump mechanics in order to quicken the procurement process of the pipes for repair of the broken boreholes.
