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Thousands hit by water crisis in Arua Town
Residents queue for water at a borehole in Arua District administration offices. Photo by Clement Aluma
Residents of Arua Municipality have for the past five days been spending hours at water points due to the water shortage that has hit the town.
A breakdown of water pumps at the Enyau Plant has seen women and girls braving the scorching sun in queues at water points.
Ms Salima Zahara of Tanganyika Ward said spending hours at water points has affected other programmes.
“We have River Nile from Rhino Camp where water could be drawn from, why can’t government look at those alternatives of connecting us?” Ms Zahara asked.
Ms Angelina Lekuru of Nsambya North, said she queued for water from 5am up to 9:30am, and decided to go back home, empty-handed. “This water crisis is causing problems with my husband who feels bad when I leave him in bed. But we have no option because we need to bathe and go for work. A lot of time is wasted at boreholes,” she said.
Some women fetch water at midnight when the queue is not very long.
The area manager, National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Mr Christopher Mwandtha, yesterday said a technical problem with the pumps could not allow them supply water. “Hopefully by tomorrow (Wednesday) we will be able to supply water. Indeed it is a great problem for women to spend hours at water points.”
Arua Municipality has about 77,900 residents, majority of whom depend on water supply by NWSC and River Enyau which is most times contaminated and dries up during the dry season.
