PADER, Uganda
Patients seeking treatment at Pajule Health Centre IV in Pader District have been forced to rely on a single borehole after the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) disconnected the facility’s piped water supply over an outstanding bill of Shs 2.6 million.
The facility has reportedly gone without piped water for about two weeks, creating difficulties for both health workers and patients while placing heavy pressure on the health centre’s only borehole.
Dr. Denis Odongkara, the officer in charge of Pajule Health Centre IV, confirmed the disruption, stating that the maternity and laboratory services are among the units most affected because they require a dependable water supply.
Because the borehole is also used by residents from the surrounding community, long queues have formed as patients, health workers, and community members compete for the available water.
Brilliant Tito Okello, the Pajule Town Council Chairperson, explained that the health centre’s water debt had accumulated partly because local residents rely heavily on the facility’s water source.
Okello noted that while the health centre receives a quarterly allocation of Shs 500,000 for water expenses, the funding has been insufficient to cover the growing bill, which currently stands at Shs 2.6 million.
Local authorities have appealed to the NWSC to restore the water supply, particularly to critical departments such as the maternity and laboratory units, to prevent further disruption to essential medical services.
Okello added that authorities would also sensitize residents on repairing and maintaining their own boreholes, several of which have reportedly been out of service for about two years.
Furthermore, he stated that security at the health centre would be strengthened to prevent unauthorized use of the facility’s water by members of the surrounding community.
Pajule Health Centre IV attends to an estimated 250 patients daily through its outpatient and inpatient departments.
Patrick Okumu, the NWSC Manager for the Pader Branch, stated that the corporation has reached an understanding with the health centre’s administration to reconnect water to critical units.
However, Okumu raised concerns about the facility's financial management, alleging that funds intended for essential utilities, including water, had been redirected to other activities.
He urged the health centre to prioritize paying its outstanding water bill, warning that failure to secure a reliable supply could severely compromise health service delivery.
Okumu further noted that the Shs 2.6 million figure might not represent the facility’s entire outstanding debt, as Pajule Health Centre IV operates three separate NWSC water accounts.
Local authorities now face the dual challenge of securing a sustainable water supply for the health centre while resolving the debt and reducing the surrounding community’s dependence on the facility's borehole.
