Three villages in Otuke District are set to benefit from improved access to clean water following a borehole drilling initiative by Otuke East MP Julius Bua Achon.
The intervention targets Ociro Village in Anyalima Parish, Ogor Sub-county; Odike Village in Ating Parish, Orum Sub-county; and Olwedo Village in Amuga Parish, Ogwete Sub-county.
The initiative is expected to ease water shortages in the beneficiary communities, some of which have relied on inadequate water sources for years.
In Odike Village, Eyen Patrick, the LC1 chairperson, said residents were overwhelmed with joy following the arrival of the drilling truck, noting that the community had previously depended on a single borehole constructed by a non-governmental organisation in 2006.
He said the facility had become insufficient to serve the growing population, leaving residents struggling to meet their daily water needs.
Eyen commended Achon for responding to the community’s needs and challenged other legislators to emulate his approach, particularly in areas where government development interventions remain limited.
He also appealed to the MP to extend his support beyond his constituency, arguing that communities in need should not be excluded because of political boundaries.
Meanwhile, Peter Okweda, the LC3 chairperson of Ogwete Sub-county, said he had approached Achon over the persistent shortage of clean water in Olwedo Village.
Okweda said the MP responded by engaging a water surveyor who identified a suitable site for drilling, a development that excited residents.
However, the drilling exercise in Olwedo was postponed until Sunday due to poor road conditions following bad weather. Okweda said residents had started working on the access road to enable the drilling truck to reach the village.
He added that Achon’s interventions in the area also include road maintenance and goat distribution.
Achon said the latest exercise brings to 163 the number of boreholes he has facilitated since joining Parliament in 2018, with each borehole estimated to cost Shs25 million.
On the financing of the programme, Achon said he uses part of his parliamentary salary and money earned from participating in running competitions abroad to fund the drilling and rehabilitation of boreholes in his constituency.
He said the initiative is aimed at improving public health by reducing residents’ exposure to diseases associated with consuming contaminated water.
Achon urged beneficiary communities to establish water management committees and fence off borehole sites to protect the facilities from damage and ensure proper maintenance.
He also encouraged residents to use the water productively, including for brick-making, and pledged to continue supporting communities that lack reliable water sources.
For communities with broken-down boreholes, the MP advised residents to report through their respective sub-county LC chairpersons, who would coordinate with his water engineering team to facilitate repairs.
He appealed to other leaders to embrace similar community-based interventions, saying access to clean water remains an essential component of public health and rural development.