By Mulengera Reporters
Tension has been boiling in Soroti City and across the greater Teso sub-region after concerns over persistent water shortages sparked public outcry in January 2026. At the center of the storm was Mike Mukula, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Eastern Region Vice Chairman, who raised alarm over the long-running water crisis affecting homes, businesses, and public institutions.
For months, families in Soroti have woken up to dry taps. Traders have counted losses. Schools and health centers have struggled to operate smoothly. Yet water bills continued to arrive without delay. The frustration was real, and the demand for answers was loud.
Mukula pushed for accountability, insisting that access to clean and reliable water is not a privilege but a public obligation. His call added urgency to a matter that has weighed heavily on the people of Soroti and neighboring districts.
But behind the scenes, the National Water & Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has been racing against time to fix the problem and now, major relief is in sight.
The Bigger Picture: Four Districts, One Water Source
The Soroti Water Works system does not serve Soroti alone. It supplies water to four districts — Soroti, Amuria, Kalaki, and Kaberamaido. All of them depend on a single source: the Awoja water source.
The distances are significant. Amuria lies 45 kilometers away. Kalaki is 35 kilometers out. Kaberamaido stretches as far as 80 kilometers. Supplying all these areas from one source has forced NWSC to introduce a rationing system to balance distribution.
This explains why many parts of Soroti, especially during morning peak hours, have experienced low pressure or complete outages. The demand has grown rapidly, but production has struggled to keep pace.
Currently, maximum water production stands at 7 million liters per day. Yet demand has surged beyond 10 million liters daily. That gap has placed enormous pressure on the system.
The Turning Point: Awoja Upgrade Nears Completion
Now comes the breakthrough.
NWSC has confirmed that the long-awaited Awoja Water Supply Improvement Project is nearing completion. The contractor is conducting water-tightness tests on newly laid 13-kilometer pipelines to ensure the integrity of the system before full commissioning.
Once officially handed over, the upgraded system is expected to significantly boost supply to the Opiyai reservoirs, which distribute water across Soroti, Kalaki, Kaberamaido, and Amuria.
The numbers are promising. Production is projected to increase by an additional 3 million liters per day — a major leap that will narrow the supply-demand gap and stabilize distribution.
Even Bigger Relief: Amuria’s Independent Water Source
In another major development, NWSC expects to complete an independent water production source for Amuria Town by January 2026.
This move will be a game changer.
Currently, a large portion of water produced at Awoja is sent to Amuria. Once Amuria begins producing its own water, the supply that has been flowing there will remain available for Soroti, Kalaki, and Kaberamaido. That shift alone will significantly ease the burden on the central system.
Dry Spell Challenges — But Hope Ahead
The current dry spell has made matters worse, increasing consumption while reducing water availability. NWSC has acknowledged the inconvenience caused and expressed regret over the disruptions.
However, with the Awoja upgrade almost complete and the Amuria independent source coming online, the tide appears to be turning.
Mukula’s firm stance has amplified the concerns of residents, but it has also shone a spotlight on the solutions underway. The pressure for accountability has met action on the ground.
Soroti is no longer an afterthought. Major infrastructure upgrades are being finalized. Production capacity is rising. Distribution balance is being restored.
For thousands of households and businesses across Teso, relief is now closer than ever. The taps that once ran dry may soon flow stronger — and more reliably — than before. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
