By Stanley Ebele and Joseph Logola March 18, 2025.
The acute water shortages in Kotido have been attributed to a spate of vandalism targeting critical water infrastructure, including pipelines and taps.
This has sparked widespread concern among officials, who are scrambling to respond to the crisis.
Teenagers fetching water in one of the few functional taps (Photo by Stanley Ebele)
Richard Otim, the Kotido NWSC Area Manager, says that the vandalism has resulted in significant damage to the water distribution system, causing widespread disruptions to water supply.
According to him, in Kapadakook village, the community destroyed the entire system and carried pipes to unknown places, something that he notes cost them huge sums of money to fix.
Otim reveals that they have dispatched emergency crews to repair the damaged pipelines, but the process is being hampered by the extent of the damage.
He calls on the locals and the stakeholders to guard water installations against vandalism to ensure sustainable supply of water.
Vandalism is not exceptional to water facilities manned by NWSC alone.
Paul Adia, the LC 3 Chairperson of Maaru Sub County says that 3 parishes of Rutom, Nakwakwa and Kanalobaie have suffered three years without water after the community vandalizing the boreholes.
Peter Lomuria Apamakadi, a pump mechanic and resident of Rom-Rom in West Division in Kotido Municipality disclosed that during the rainy season, some people unscrew the bolts to use on their ox ploughs.
“We are concerned about the health impacts of this crisis, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children”, says Lomuria.
Last year, the community of South Division was hit hardest by a water crisis following vandalism which forced residents to spend days without bathing.
The water supply in Kotido worsens during dry seasons, making life heard for the residents especially in the municipality.
