Ngora Village Struggles to Fund Borehole Repair Amidst Financial Hardship

Akarukei Village, home to approximately 1,000 people in Ngora District, is grappling with a severe lack of clean water. Their only borehole ceased functioning two weeks ago, and the community has been unable to gather the Shs300,000 needed for its repair.

Margaret Apio, a resident, explained that the borehole user committee has struggled to collect contributions, managing only Shs85,000. The community cites a recent crop failure as the primary reason for their financial constraints, making the required contribution difficult.

Compounding the issue, there are also reports of alleged mismanagement of previously collected borehole funds, though details remain scarce. In the meantime, villagers are forced to trek to the neighboring village of Tiling to fetch drinking water. For domestic use, they rely on a poorly maintained well dug in a swamp.

Alfred Ekocu Achoka, the local village chairperson, stated that pipes are needed for the repair. He noted that the intended monthly contribution of Shs2,000 per household for maintenance has not been effectively enforced. He recalled past practices where the user committee could confiscate livestock for non-payment, a method discontinued due to legal threats from villagers.

Duncan Musane, the sub-county chairperson, confirmed that the sub-county lacks a specific budget for borehole repairs, emphasizing that maintenance is the community’s responsibility once a borehole is handed over by the government. He plans to meet with the community to discuss strategies for raising the required funds, urging residents to take ownership of community resources.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ngora-village-fails-to-raise-shs300-000-to-repair-a-borehole-5506038