Dry Spell climax forces Arua City Residents to fetch water from unclean sources.

By Kaleb Yikii

As Uganda’s Northern region continues to experience Dry spell, residents in Arua city continue to grapple with Access to clean water. Lack of access to safe drinking water is a situation that affects approximately 783 million people, many of them being among the worlds poorest. The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted General Comment No. 15 on the right to water in which, Article I.1 states that, "The human right to water is indispensable for leading a life in human dignity and it is a prerequisite for the realization of other human rights".

The use of contaminated water causes many serious diseases, which results in the death of millions of people every year. More so, the lack of adequate quantities of safe water prevents people from obtaining the basic essentials for living, such as proper hygiene, adequate food, and improved sanitation.
Inzikuru Gloria, a resident of Oleva Cell in Onzivu Ward in Arua City is worried that the continuous dry season will cause acute water shortages and says that when the Piped water supply by National Water and Sewerage cooperation is cut off, residents resort to using alternative water sources for Domestic use.
“When there is no water in the piped taps,  we come here to fetch water very early in the morning but leave at midday and we have been going to fetch water from the streams for domestic work like washing clothes and Utensils” She Said.

Due to the dry spell, Erratic piped water Supply has been observed and this has led to increase in the price of a 20 Litre jerry can of Water to rise to 200 Shillings as disclosed by a water Kiosk Attendant  Gasper Yandu Aulogo,  at Stage five center in Alengo Cell in Arua City. “People come and buy a jerry of water at 200 shillings but when dirty water comes after it has been cut off, people reject it”.
Ajiko Cicilian, a resident of Maraca Cell in Arua City Says they are forced to purify water by expensive means. “If you want Clean Water, you go and boil which is a very long process and this to the cost of charcoal yet if the water was from a clean source, we will not suffer like this”. She Adds.
The right to water is defined as the right of everyone to have sufficient, safe, and acceptable and physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.

COVER PHOTO: Unclean Spring at Ewanyapa By Kaleb Yikii