Gulu University students have been forced to borrow folk ways of carrying water on top of their heads in order to acquire water following water shortage in some parts of Laro division. The shortage has reportedly been on for over two weeks.
Reports indicate that some hostels such as Florida have run out of water and students have resorted to walking long distances to the wells with some lobbying for some from friends at hostels with water pumps.
Nelson Balaza, Gulu university’s prime minister told the Bee that the crisis that has lasted for close to a fortnight has affected students with some having to buy a jerrycan of water for 600 shillings. He says all hostels that are supplied by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation have not had water for over three weeks.
“Students are being charged a minimum of 600 for water. Someone was charged 2000 for just a jerrycan of water. Those hostels pumping their own water do have, those supplied by National Water don’t have.” Nelson said.
Sam Apedel, the public relations officer at National Water and Sewerage Corporation revealed to the Bee that the water shortage in Laro division is because of the prolonged drought that has decreased the water level at Oyitino dam from which the division gets its water.
Apedel says Gulu university will be connected to a motorized borehole and will have water by end of Wednesday 16th March, 2022.
“Gulu university gets most of its water from Oyitino dam, because of the prolonged drought the water levels in Oyitino dam have gone down. We developed a production well (underground and motorized borehole) and Gulu university will be connected tomorrow (16th March, 2022),” Apedel explained.
Sam Apedel further advises that people should take care of the environment in order to avoid such water shortages at dams.
The motorized borehole will bring a halt on reliance of Oyitino dam for water supply and this could be the end of water shortages at Gulu university and Laro division at large.
