Access to clean and safe water is still a big challange in Uganda. A Habitat for Humanity photo.
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Ngetta ward residents want leaders to rescue them from the water crisis.
By Joyce Aguti
Lira, April 5 2022: There are reported cases of an acute water crisis in Lira City’s most industrial division.
Anna Otiti, a resident of Tebung cell, Ngetta ward in Lira City East Division said their piped water named ‘Akwoyo’ needs rehabilitation and “it was serving many villages”.
She said people do fight, and struggle for water and that they are sharing with domestic animals. There isn’t any leader that has taken a quick reaction to that, Anna told TND News.
Odyer Jimmy is also a resident of Tebung cell. “During the elections, some of the politicians promised that they would provide residents with clean water. Until now we haven’t seen anything.”
Odyer said he is fearing that there might be an outbreak of cholera, dysentery, and diarrhoea because they are sharing with animals and it’s dirty: “the fact is that it’s serving many people.”
If possible, he said their political leaders, mostly the mayor of Lira City, should help them rehabilitate the piped water and add more water sources.
The LC1 chairperson Tebung cell Tonny Otim, confirmed the water crisis, saying that they don’t have any source of water constructed by the government.
“We have three piped water sources constructed by the community, only two are operating: Ogomi and Obo hich are serving almost all the five villages in Lira City East. Comboni Ward, Kuri-wo, Te-atura, Tebung and Ayom-med B are the villages.
Stella Akello, a resident of Ayom-med B said that the shortage of water is causing domestic violence in their homes and teenage pregnancy.
“…when there are many people at the water point some of the girls get back home late.”
She requested the Division Mayor of Lira City East, George Okello Ayo to react faster.
Ayoo couldn’t be reached for comments.
Mayor of Lira City Council, Sam Atul said that such problems are expected from the ward and divisions.
“All of them should be in the plan so that when we get money, we implement it,” he said.
