New Boreholes in Arua District Bring Relief as Residents Gain Clean Water Access

Community members, joined by Vurra County MP Charity Lenia, launch one of the boreholes

Community members, joined by Vurra County MP Charity Lenia, launch one of the boreholes

ARUA, Uganda — Two newly drilled boreholes in Arua District have brought relief to residents of Olevu Parish in Ajia Sub-county and Eceko Parish in Arivu Sub-county, areas long plagued by a lack of clean and safe water.

For years, residents said they relied on open water sources that are unsafe and pose health risks. The streams they used are also shared with animals and sometimes used for other domestic activities, including construction.

Sitarena Candiru, a resident of Madua Village, said that in more than 30 years she has lived in the area, she has mainly relied on the Nyara Stream, which passes through the community. She described the newly drilled borehole as a relief.

“I am more than 30 years old now, and all along we have not had a clean water source here. We drink water from the stream, and when it rains, the water becomes dirty and we have to look for it from the far side,” she told Uganda Radio Network.

Residents also said they have faced challenges in treating waterborne diseases, which they believe result from drinking contaminated water from open sources.

Amina Atako, a resident of Olevu Parish, explained that the struggle for clean water is worsened by a poor road network and other community challenges. Atako pledged that community members would protect the borehole to prevent contamination and ensure its continued function, adding that a maintenance committee has already been formed.

“We have formed committee to help in protecting the borehole since we have been struggling here so much in accessing clean water in the area” Atako said.

With the two boreholes now in place, drilled by Vurra County Member of Parliament Charity Lenia as part of her corporate social responsibility, residents hope to see improved health as they will now have access to safer water than that from open sources such as streams.

A Village Health Team (VHT) member, Dan Asiku, said he regularly refers community members to higher level health facilities for treatment of waterborne diseases contracted from using unsafe water from open sources.

“People from my village have been facing a lot of challenges due to lack clean sources of water. I regularly refer them to higher level health centres because of waterborne diseases” he said.

The two boreholes are expected to serve an estimated 2,500 community members from the villages where they have been drilled, as well as neighbouring villages within the two sub-counties.

However, the area MP, Charity Lenia, urged community members to use the boreholes responsibly and keep their surroundings clean to prevent contamination of water from the boreholes.

“I am appealing to you to keep these boreholes well and maintain them. They are meant to help you as the community so take good care of them so that they can serve you for a long time” she advised.

As of last year, Arua District had clean water coverage of 61 percent, according to records obtained from Arua District Water Office that was presented by the District Water Officer, Patrick Odongo.

Ajia Sub-county had a higher coverage rate of 92 percent after Ministry of Water and Environment completed the installation of solar power water systems in selected sub counties of the district.

Meanwhile, Water Supply Atlas indicated that the district had a total of 1,659 domestic water points but more than 200 had been non-functional for over five years, indicating a continued challenge in accessing clean and reliable water by residents in the district.