local 23 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Ngora Village Struggles to Raise Funds for Borehole Repair
Residents of Akarukei Village in Ngora District are facing a severe water crisis after their borehole broke down two weeks ago, and the community has failed to gather the Shs300,000 needed for repairs. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ngora-village-fails-to-raise-shs300-000-to-repair-a-borehole-5506038
Akarukei Village, home to approximately 1,000 residents in Ngora District, is grappling with a critical water shortage. Their community borehole, the primary source of clean water, malfunctioned two weeks ago, halting access for the entire village.
Efforts to raise the Shs300,000 required for repairs have been largely unsuccessful. According to Ms. Margaret Apio, a local resident, the borehole user committee has only managed to collect Shs85,000 from the community in the past two weeks, leaving a significant shortfall. Ms. Apio attributes the financial difficulty to recent crop failures that have impacted the livelihoods of many villagers.
Compounding the problem are reports of alleged mismanagement of borehole funds. In the absence of a functioning borehole, residents are forced to travel to the neighboring village of Tiling to collect drinking water. For domestic use, they rely on water from a swamp well, a situation described as dire.
The village LC1 chairperson, Mr. Alfred Ekocu Achoka, highlighted the need for new pipes to fix the borehole. He noted that while a monthly contribution of Shs2,000 per household is expected for maintenance, the user committee appears to have faced resistance from consumers. Historically, the committee had measures like confiscating a chicken from non-compliant households, but this practice ceased due to legal threats.
Mr. Duncan Musane, the Kobuin LC3 chairperson, stated that the sub-county lacks a specific budget for borehole repairs, emphasizing that such maintenance is the responsibility of the beneficiary community. He urged residents to embrace ownership of community resources and plans to convene a meeting to devise strategies for raising the necessary funds.