UPDF repairs over 40 boreholes in Amuru, Nwoya

AMURU - As a way to commemorate the founding date of the National Resistance Army (NRA), now known as the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), the army has repaired 44 boreholes in the districts of Amuru and Nwoya.

The boreholes, where 32 were in Amuru, while the rest in Nwoya, were near schools, health centres and densely populated communities with lack of clean water.

While handing over the repaired boreholes to community on December 30, 2025, Col. Nathan Bainomugisha, the Brigade commander of 501 battalion, who oversees Amuru and Nwoya, said, “This is one of Tarehe-Sita activities that we come back to communities to thank you  for supporting us right from NRA days to UPDF days up to date because we came from you.”

Bainomugisha added that during Tarehe-Sita activities, they thank the community through civil works like repairing boreholes, open roads, cleaning streets and towns, carrying out medical camps, among others.

He thanked people for being peace-loving by supporting UPDF operations. He added that the community supported them in fighting LRA rebels by giving information to them, supported them in fighting illegal charcoal burning, logging and in eviction of Balalo herds’ men.

Bainomugisha advised people to embrace government poverty alleviation programmes like the EMYOOGA, UWEP, Youth livelihood, PDM that will help them at family level.

He urged people not to listen to any leaders who preach messages that divide or bring hatred to people, but listen to leaders who preach messages of peace, development, harmony and reconciliation.

Col. Nathan Bainomugisha (Pumping water) as Michael Lakony, Amuru district chair, drinks water from a borehole during the handing over of the repaired boreholes to the community in Amuru. (Credit: Jackson Kitara)

Amuru LC5  chairperson Michael Lakony lauded the UPDF for repairing boreholes in the district. He said the cost of repairing a borehole is about shillings seven million, which means they, as district authorities, are unable to repair all the broken boreholes with the little money and budget they have.

Ciprian Kibwola, the LC1 chairperson of Abong Dyang cell in Amuru town council, said there is high demand for clean water in his area as they have about 280 households fetching water from the only repaired borehole.

“I request the Government to put up tap water in the town council here to help people from staying a long time to fetch water from borehole,” he said.

Betty Auma, a resident of Wii Lacic Village in Koch Lii sub-county in Nwoya district, was so happy to fetch water from the borehole.

She said when the only borehole in their village broke down, they used to move long distances to go and fetch water from wells, which is not good for human consumption.

Auma said they used to fetch water, first put a water guard to purify it before pouring it in drinking pot for use because it is dirty that they share with animals.

She said that now that the borehole has been repaired, they have formed a water source committee that collects money from borehole users to help with future repairs.