Residents of Pece Laro Division call for action over unsafe water

17 September 2026, 11:16 am

By Ekel Bonny

Residents in three cells of Pece Laro Division in Gulu City are calling for urgent intervention to address a long-standing shortage of safe and affordable drinking water.

Residents of Aringa, Bar and Pageya cells say they have been forced to rely on a swamp water source known as “Wang Olwa”, which becomes dirty during rainy weather, raising concerns about the safety of water consumed by the community.

Akello Dorothy, a resident of Aringa Cell, said the community lacks access to affordable clean water despite the presence of piped water in the area.

She said residents rely on swamp water for drinking, which often becomes contaminated during the rainy season.

She appealed to the authorities to consider providing a borehole, noting that many residents cannot afford the monthly fees charged for piped water.

Laker Doreen, a resident of Bar Cell and caretaker of the swamp water point, said efforts to keep the source clean have been hampered by limited community participation.

She said residents often walk about two kilometres in search of cleaner water.

Ojok Joel, a resident of Bar Cell and whistleblower on the issue, said the problem has persisted for years and affects more than 1,000 residents, particularly women who carry out most domestic chores.

Residents, including Akello Everline, are also calling for intervention, saying the swamp becomes contaminated whenever it rains.

Laroo Pece City Division Mayor Gifter Aber urged the affected residents and local leaders to formally present their concerns to her office for action. However, she said the current city policy does not allow the drilling of new boreholes, but pledged to explore alternative solutions.

The Local Council I Chairperson of Bar Cell, Francis Okech, confirmed receiving similar complaints from all three cells and called for affordable piped water as an alternative.