Many boreholes in the area have either malfunctioned or have seen a significant drop in water levels due to the ongoing dry spell, leaving the community struggling for clean water.
As the water crisis intensifies in Napak Town Council, Napak District, residents have turned to social media, specifically WhatsApp, to mobilize funds for repairing broken boreholes. Many boreholes in the area have either malfunctioned or have seen a significant drop in water levels due to the ongoing dry spell, leaving the community struggling for clean water.
Despite several reports to district authorities requesting assistance, no substantial intervention has been made. As a result, residents have been forced to share contaminated water sources with livestock, and the few functioning boreholes are overwhelmed by the high population.
In Lokatapan village, one borehole has been broken for eight months. After numerous failed attempts to get help from the district, the community took matters into their own hands. They collected money to hire a local mechanic who partially repaired the borehole, but it soon broke down again.
Frustrated, the community set up a WhatsApp group called the Napak Town Council Forum, with 200 members. Each person was tasked with contributing a minimum of 5,000 shillings towards the repair. The initiative was a success, and the borehole is now functional after eight months of disrepair.
Sam Mudong, the team leader of the initiative, explained that they resorted to WhatsApp after realizing that their efforts to get support from the district had been in vain. Mudong attributed the initial breakdown of the borehole to mismanagement, as those in charge of the borehole could not account for the maintenance funds collected from the community.
Mudong said the social media-driven effort has relieved the community’s water burden. He also mentioned that one member contributed 120,000 shillings for labor and other costs were covered by the funds raised in the group. The contribution drive continues to ensure funds are available for any future repairs, while local councils are also seeking additional government support.
"We couldn't wait for the government’s support due to delays; our community was in dire need of clean water," Mudong said. He added that the mobilization spirit would be extended to other affected villages.
Mudong is optimistic that the initiative will continue to help alleviate water stress in the community, which has long been neglected by timely government support.
He noted plans to establish a strong committee to manage the funds for ongoing borehole maintenance.
The repair cost 170,000 shillings, and more contributions are being collected to procure additional pipes and maintenance materials. The community has also borrowed two pipes from a nearby school, each costing about 200,000 shillings.
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Victor Lomonyang, a member behind the initiative, pointed out that Karamoja has long suffered from water shortages during the dry season. Lomonyang stated that although the district officials have been aware of the community’s concerns, nothing has been done to resolve the crisis.
He shared that after several unsuccessful attempts to seek support from local leaders, the community turned to social media to raise funds. "The district officials could only write reports about the crisis, but the feedback never reached the community," Lomonyang said. He added that the voices of the community have been suppressed, leaving their service delivery concerns unaddressed.
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Felix Okot, a resident of Lokeru village, echoed Lomonyang's sentiments, saying that the community has been grappling with water shortages since last year, with no action taken. Okot emphasized that despite being neglected by those in power, the community decided to rise above the challenges and adopt a proactive approach.
"The success of this initiative is a testament to the power of collective action," Okot said. "It shows that we can take charge of our destiny instead of waiting for leaders to act,"
Okot added that this effort is just the beginning of a broader initiative to tackle other problems neglected by local leadership.
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According to the district water department, Napak faces severe water shortages during the dry season, with water levels dropping significantly. The district’s water coverage stands at 84 percent of the population, but the functionality rate of water sources has decreased from 75 percent to 65 percent due to the dry conditions.
