Soroti, Uganda: Residents of Tubur Town Council in Tubur Sub County, Dakabela County, Soroti District, continue to share water with animals despite the government injecting about 2.9 billion shillings through the Ministry of Water and Environment to construct a solar pump water system to serve the community.
The system, constructed 14 years ago, has remained idle and non-functional due to substandard work. In the entire town council, only three taps are working, while the rest of the community standpipes have failed to operate due to substandard construction.
The system, supervised by the office of Assistant Commissioner Mr. Joseph Eyatu, has attracted calls for a project audit. Debora Amuge, a resident of Tubur Trading Centre, stated that since the Zhongaho Overseas construction contractor completed the work in 2012, they have been waiting for water without any success.
“We are just worshiping the tank and the signpost showing the construction of the water system in our area here, but we don’t see water. Instead, we have continued sharing water with animals,” she said.
John Otim, the LC1 Chairperson of Tubur Ward A, mentioned that the water facility has become obsolete, with some pipes rusting without supplying water to the community.
“This is an abuse of government resources. How can you come and dump 2.9 billion shillings for this facility that has not had any positive impact on the people of Tubur?” he asked.
Bob Owiny, the District Councilor for Tubur Sub County, said that when the Ministry of Water started work on the facility, it initially generated happiness among the community, but it has turned out to be a disappointment. Schools like Tubur Primary School, Achuna Primary, and Aparisa Primary School have children walking several kilometers to the spring well for drinking water, while the multibillion water facility, supposed to supply water to these schools, has failed to work.
“We really don’t know what the Ministry of Water and Environment is up to because this project is under the Ministry of Water, funded by the World Bank,” he said.
Mr. Peter Edoru, the District Chairperson of Soroti, stated that Ministry of Water officials are taking the people of Soroti, especially Tubur Sub County, for granted. He expressed frustration, saying, “This project started when I had not even become a councilor, and up to now, as the district Chairperson, it has failed to work. Whenever I call the Ministry of Water officials, they keep giving false hope.”
According to Mr. Edoru, there are new projects that are working, but the old one has failed. He has made an appointment with the Minister of Water and Environment to find out the whole saga delaying the system.
Mr. Wang, the project engineer from Zhongaho Overseas Construction Limited, when contacted, said the facility has not worked due to a lack of solar panels.
Engineer Joseph Eyatu, a commissioner in charge of Rural Water Supply in the Ministry of Water and Environment, when contacted, said, “Come to Kampala in the Ministry of Water if you want information.
