‘The Amens’ are now relieved from sharing water sources with animals

Soroti | The community of Amen ‘A’ and ‘B’ in Soroti district now has access to clean and safe drinking water thanks to the construction of two boreholes by ‘One Million Wells’.

The majority of community members smiled as they began pumping clean water from newly drilled boreholes after years of sharing water with domestic animals.

Esther Alingo, a resident, explained that they had been sharing ground well water with animals and wild birds, putting them at risk of waterborne diseases.

Another resident, Robert Akokas, expressed concern about the safety of the water they were drinking, citing potential diseases.

Immaculate Aruto, another resident, stated that fetching water was a time-consuming task for women and children, resulting in domestic conflicts due to long lines at the wells.

Salume Aleo praised the leaders and the organisation, stating that the water issues they had been facing had been resolved.

Isaac Asaku, a Soroti City councillor, stated that many wards annexed to the city were water-stressed, affecting approximately 4,000 residents.

He noted that, despite the government’s policy of prohibiting borehole drilling in cities and municipalities, piped water had yet to reach many wards, resulting in a water crisis.

According to Daniel Egimu, Operations Director of One Million Wells Uganda, the organisation will continue to work with local leaders to drill more than one million wells worldwide, depending on demand.

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The water sources will be drilled near water bodies, with each well costing between shs7 and shs8 million, with the goal of improving and easing access to safe and clean water.

MP Jonathan Ebwalu urged residents to form borehole management committees to oversee the use and management of the water source.

Joan Alobo, Soroti City’s woman MP, assured that local leaders would continue to advocate for effective service delivery.

She urged the community to make proper use of the wells while they work with the government to allocate resources for piped water in unconnected areas.

By Robert Edwomu.