PADER, Uganda — Patients at Pajule Health Centre IV in Pader District are facing disruptions in accessing health services after the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) disconnected the facility’s piped water supply over an outstanding bill of Shs2.6 million.
The health centre has been without piped water for about two weeks, forcing staff and patients to rely on the facility’s only borehole for their water needs.
Dr Denis Odongkara, the health centre’s in-charge, said the shortage is affecting operations, particularly in the maternity and laboratory units, where a reliable water supply is essential.
The situation has also placed additional pressure on the borehole, which serves both the health centre and residents from the surrounding community. Patients and community members have reportedly been spending hours in queues to collect water.
Pajule Town Council Chairperson Brilliant Tito Okello said the health centre’s water bill has continued to rise because members of the surrounding community also depend on its water source.
According to Okello, the facility receives Shs500,000 every quarter to meet water-related expenses, but the allocation is insufficient to cover the growing costs. The outstanding bill has since accumulated to Shs2.6 million.
Local authorities have appealed to NWSC to restore water to critical sections of the health centre, particularly the maternity and laboratory units, to prevent further disruption of essential medical services.
Okello said authorities would also encourage residents to repair and maintain their own boreholes to reduce pressure on the health centre’s water source.
Several community water sources have reportedly remained out of service for about two years, leaving Pajule Health Centre IV as one of the few reliable sources of water in the area.
Authorities also plan to strengthen security at the health centre to prevent unauthorised use of its water facilities.
Pajule Health Centre IV provides outpatient and inpatient services to an estimated 250 patients each day.
NWSC Agrees to Restore Critical Units
Patrick Okumu, NWSC’s Pader Branch Manager, said the corporation had held discussions with the health centre administration and agreed to restore water supply to critical units.
However, Okumu criticised the facility’s management over what he described as poor prioritisation of utility payments.
He alleged that funds intended for essential services, including water, had been diverted to other activities, urging the health centre to prioritise clearing its water arrears.
Okumu warned that prolonged lack of piped water could undermine the delivery of essential health services at the facility.
He further noted that the Shs2.6 million debt may not represent the health centre’s entire outstanding balance because Pajule Health Centre IV operates three separate NWSC accounts.
While the planned reconnection of critical units is expected to ease the immediate pressure, the facility still faces the challenge of clearing its outstanding water bills and finding a sustainable solution to the shortage affecting both the health centre and the surrounding community.
