NEBBI, December 3, 2025 — Communities in Abindu Division, Nebbi Municipality, are in a state of panic after going without piped water for nearly three months.
Residents say the prolonged lack of piped water supplied by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation [NWSC] has forced them to rely on contaminated streams as their only available source, putting their health at risk.
Annet Olyera, a resident of Kasuku Cell in Nyacara Ward, said she has spent nearly Shs 150,000 on water collected from the nearby river during the three months. With a household of 10 people, she says the cost has become unmanageable.
Olyera fears that if water is not restored before the onset of the dry season, communities will face an increased risk of waterborne diseases due to continued reliance on unsafe water sources.
“The children are coming home for the holidays. If there is still no piped water, how shall we manage? They consume a lot of water, I use at least 10 jerrycans a day,” she said.
She added that the price of water in the affected cells has risen from Shs 100 to Shs 300 per 20-litre jerrycan.
Charles Mba Olangi, a mayoral aspirant for Nebbi Municipality, said it is a critical moment when clean and safe water should be available and accessible to every household. He noted that Kasuku, Akesi and Angir cells in Abindu Division are the worst affected, with acute shortages since September. Residents have been left scrambling for water from River Nyacara, whose safety is uncertain.
“The communities have struggled since September to find clean and safe water, forcing them to spend more money daily despite the economic hardships in their households,” Olangi said.
Steven Tusabe Kalyebara, NWSC Area Manager for Nebbi, attributed the shortage to road maintenance works on the Nebbi–Kei road, carried out by the Municipal Council. He said the construction damaged several water pipes supplying Abindu Division.
He confirmed that materials to restore water supply have been procured, but operational and maintenance costs exceeded the local budget, causing delays as municipal authorities were required to intervene.
“We lost a lot of revenue, about 30 percent, because water was wasted during the roadworks, with several pipes cut. This left communities without piped water for nearly three months, which is a great loss to NWSC,” Tusabe said.
He added that the population served with piped water has grown to 156,278 between 2018 and July 2025, representing a 72 per cent increase.
Nebbi Municipality Town Clerk, Muzamil Akumu, assured affected communities that water would soon be restored. He said municipal engineers are already on the ground reinstalling the damaged pipes.
“Municipal Council is working hand in hand with NWSC to ensure piped water is restored in the affected communities within the next few weeks,” Akumu said.
Jonathan Ogenmungu, another resident of Nebbi Municipality, said water challenges extend beyond Abindu Division and affect the entire town.
“We have water problems across the whole town. If any other corporate body could take over water supply in Nebbi, it would be better, because some areas go a whole week without water,” Ogenmungu said.
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