Community demands accountability from water committee in Ojile, Paiula

4 July 2025, 12:48 pm

By Geoffrey Okwong

Residents of Ojile Central Village, Paiula Parish, Paiula Sub county, Pader District, are demanding transparency and accountability from the Water User Committee regarding funds collected at a local water source.

Nyeko Yubu, a resident, revealed that the committee, through its chairperson, has been collecting varying amounts from community members—reportedly UGX 2,000, UGX 4,000, and UGX 5,000 at different times—without providing any clear explanation or accountability.
“This borehole serves five wards, yet we have no idea how the collected money is being used,” Nyeko said. “This week, the community unanimously resolved to stop contributing any funds until a full account of previous collections is provided.”

When contacted, Patrick Olanya, the District Water Officer, clarified the role of Water User Committees (WUCs), stating that they are responsible for overseeing the operation and maintenance of community water sources.

“Each household is expected to contribute UGX 2,000 monthly—whether or not the borehole is functional,” Olanya explained. “These funds are saved in the name of the water source and are intended to cover repair and maintenance costs whenever required.”
Olanya stressed that the committee is mandated to hold monthly meetings to update the community on both expenditures and savings.

He added that in cases where funds are misused, the matter should first be addressed by the LC I Chairperson before being escalated to higher local government authorities, such as the LC III, the Community Development Officer (CDO), and the Health Assistant at sub-county level.

Efforts to contact Angelo Nyero, Chairperson of the Water User Committee, were unsuccessful, as his known phone number was unreachable at the time of publication.