Minister commissions Shs 800mln motorised borehole in Nebbi district
NEBBI, March 31, 2025 — The State Minister for Primary Education, Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, commissioned an Shs 800 million motorised borehole in Kucwiny Subcounty, Nebbi district, over the weekend.
According to Minister Moriku, Kucwiny Subcounty has historically been known as a water-stressed area, where residents have to travel long distances in search of clean and safe water.
She added that the borehole, initiated by African Water Solutions [AWS], a not-for-profit organisation focused on improving access to clean and safe water in rural Uganda, will serve an estimated population of 84,000 and significantly increase the district’s water coverage, which has remained at 30 per cent over the past five years.
“Today, we are celebrating the addition of another water source in Kucwiny. In the Bible, water symbolises divine intervention. We read that Jesus asked for water to drink, which shows how significant it is to have access to water in our communities,” said the minister.
According to residents, some villages in Nebbi district have lacked clean and safe water for nearly 50 years, forcing locals to rely on contaminated water, which breeds waterborne diseases like cholera and dysentery.
Tabban Wakonga, a local from Kucwiny Subcounty, said the motorised borehole would help address the pressing water scarcity issues faced by villages such as Vur Lee, Ndima West, Lee village, Baro Lee, Oryeju Lower, and Oryeju Upper, among others.
“Due to the water challenges in our communities, the population in Lee Parish is dwindling, as people are migrating to areas with water. This migration is reducing our local revenues, which we rely on for development,” Wakonga said.
Mary Ocanda, a resident of Oryeju Upper in Kucwiny, called on the government to construct a valley dam to enhance agricultural production through irrigation, as many residents rely on both livestock farming and crop production.
“We only have one planting season due to changing rain patterns. If the government could construct valley dams, it would greatly improve our livelihoods through enhanced agricultural production,” Ocanda said.
However, Amos Openji, the Programme Manager at AWS, said the organisation has mapped 13 villages for piped water connections to reduce the risks associated with water shortages. Currently, 9 villages are fully connected, while 4 are still pending. He added that the water connection would be extended to neighbouring villages.
The Ndima motorised borehole was funded by Water School Canada, a non-profit organisation that drills boreholes to bring clean spring water up from deep within the earth. The motor is designed to pump 11,000 litres per hour, with a reserve tank of 80,000 litres.
Emmanuel Urombi, the LC V Chairman of Nebbi district, welcomed the water project and pledged that the district leadership would continue identifying areas with water shortages in order to provide assistance.
“Communities used to fetch water from distant sources, putting young girls at risk of being assaulted. With the motorised borehole, cases of domestic violence should decrease, and women can now access water at a nearby point, as AWS works to extend piped water to other communities in need,” Urombi said.
https://thecooperator.news/water-shortage-hits-three-subcounties-in-nebbi-district/
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