Oyam town council hit by tap water crisis, residents struggle for clean water

24 February 2025, 1:37 pm

By Eman Yonah Oruk

A recent survey conducted in Oyam Town Council has revealed a severe water crisis, with residents struggling to access clean water. The crisis has led to several challenges, including residents going to bed without bathing, denying visitors drinking water, and wearing dirty clothes.

The water shortage has persisted for three days, prompting concerns from visitors like Denish Okello, who fears that the lack of clean water may discourage visitors and hinder development activities in the area.

Jaspher Okello, a resident of Ngai subcounty who has always lived in Oyam town council, worries that the ongoing crisis may force businesses to relocate to areas with better access to clean water.

Restaurant owners in the area, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported that the water shortage is severely affecting their businesses, as Oyam town council has only one borehole.

Efforts to obtain comments from the National Umbrella of Water, Oyam branch, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

This water crisis is not an isolated incident, as Kamdini town council in Oyam district has also faced similar sanitation and water shortages in the past.

In Uganda, the construction of boreholes, including those in town centres, are regulated by the Ministry of Water and Environment. According to the Ministry’s guidelines, all borehole construction requires a permit from the Directorate of Water Resources Management.