Anger in Napak as contractor hands over dry boreholes

Napak, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Napak district local government has given Sumadhura Company limited a week’s ultimatum to drill two new boreholes, or refund Shillings 48 million they received for the work. It all started after the company drilled two boreholes in the district two weeks ago, but they did not produce any water.

The company drilled one of the boreholes in Aoyaloye village, Kokipurat parish, Lorengechorwa sub county under DWD 77370, and another in Sakatan village, Kokipurat parish, Lorengecora sub county under DWD 7759.

URN has since learnt that each of the boreholes cost Shillings 24 million. Napak Resident District Commissioner Moses Kigai Wamoto, discovered that the boreholes were not working three days after their installation.

He says the action of the company needs severe punishment. “How can the contractor install dry boreholes and go with Shillings 48million yet the community needs water. We will get him, “he said. Prisca Loyor, the Napak vice LC V chairperson said, “It’s unbelievable that Sumadhura Company can do this to the people of Napak district.”

She said that they would take action should the contractor fail to correct the mess within a week’s time. John Lorika, the Kokipurat parish councillor says that the contractor left their truck at the site for three days without any sign of water.

“I was surprised when I returned from Kotido and established that the contractor had completed installing the borehole, the community tried to pump water but water does not come out, “he said.

Betty Losike, the secretary of the water user committee for Aoyaloye village, says that the community was in dire need of water and that they did not expect the contractor to deliver shoddy work.

Francis Egesa, the technical officer working with Sumadhura Company who supervised the works said they would go back and check what could have gone wrong. “What you are telling me is news, but we will go back and check exactly what happened, “he said and hang up his phone.

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URN