UPDF joins drive to restore Gulu water

UPDF officers on site at Oyitino dam in a desperate attempt to restore water supply to Gulu town. PHOTO by James Owich. 

In Summary

Dry. Gulu Municipality has been hit by water shortage for weeks

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have dispatched its officers from the water engineering and construction brigades to Oyitino Dam in Patiko Sub-county, in an attempt to help restore water supply to Gulu town.

The army officers have joined a team of other engineers and managers from National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC) who have camped at the dam since Tuesday following a water shortage that has hit Gulu Municipality.

The long dry spell currently being experienced has affected the water levels at the Oyitino Dam that has drastically reduced from the normal 4.65 meters to 0.08 meters.
Since Tuesday, the UPDF officers have been working round the clock to dig up trenches from Oyitino stream to increase water flow into the dam.

Lt Ahmad Hassan Kato, the 4th Division Army spokesperson said on Wednesday at least 70 officers have been involved in providing technical work and casual labors to dig a 1.5km trench.
According to Lt Kato, the trench will link the water reservoir to a nearby stream.

He added that the piles of dead fish had created an unbearable stench at the dam.

Mr Paul Rackara, the NWSC Gulu branch manager, expressed optimism that normal water supply will be restored within five days.
He explained that plans are also underway to restore two motorised water pumps already drilled in Onang and Mican in Bardege Division within Gulu Municipality that will help boost water supplies to clients.

Mr Rackara said the two water plants are estimated to have the capacity to produce around 40,000 litres of raw water per hour.
Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the district chairperson who also visited the dam on Tuesday, revealed that as part of a lasting solution to the water crisis, they will tap water from Karuma (River Nile).

Gulu water crisis that has now entered day four has affected about 139,000 people who use tap water forcing many residents to resort to boreholes and spring wells as alternatives. Prices of water has also sky-rocketed in the past days with a jerrycan of water now going for between Shs500 and Shs1,000 at commercial boreholes and water points.