Access to clean water has been disrupted for hundreds of residents in Omiya Pacwa Sub-county, Agago District, after a solar-powered rural water supply scheme was vandalized, affecting supply to several villages.
The destruction of water pipes and solar panels has left residents of Lamica, Morulem, Labima, and Abilnino villages walking up to two kilometres in search of water.
District officials say the damaged infrastructure was part of a multi-billion-shilling rural water project aimed at improving access to safe water in underserved communities where coverage remains below 50 percent.
The solar-powered water scheme was constructed by SHAKTI Pumps Limited for Shs5.99 billion under the Support to Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project.
The project was funded by the Export-Import Bank of India and the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Water and Environment.
Investigations by district officials indicate that some community members cut water pipes and damaged other components of the system to create unauthorized access points for livestock watering and domestic use.
Speaking during a joint technical inspection, Agago Assistant District Water Officer Christopher Odokonyero said initial concerns over technical defects had largely been addressed, with recent findings pointing to community interference as a major cause of the challenges affecting the system.
The vandalism comes at a time when the government is investing heavily in expanding safe water coverage across rural Uganda, particularly in regions where access remains critically low.
By URN
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