Empowered Woman Enables Uwokot Village in Pallisa District to get its First Borehole

Margaret Agwang from Owukot village, Gogonyo subcounty in Pallisa district understands her rights and responsibilities as a citizen of Uganda. She was privileged like many women in her village to be sensitised by the Pallisa Civil Society Network (PACONET) on her civic rights. She received sensitisation severally, both at the sub-county as well as the district. These sessions educated her on her right to water and health services and because of this, she was able change her attitude and her way of living. For as long as Margaret remembers, Uwukot village had never got a water source although it had been planned for by the district on more than three occasions.

Each time the village got an allocation from the district, the boreholes were immediately relocated to other communities. On one occasion in 2015, the Pallisa district planner informed the community of a water source that had been planned for them. Unfortunately, this borehole was also relocated to a nearby school. Margaret seized this opportunity to rectify this situation. She went to the office of the District Engineer and demanded to know what had happened to their borehole. She was informed that the borehole was indeed for her community but some influential politicians in her sub-county were doing all they could to have it relocated to the school. She visited both the LC III Chairperson, and the deputy pressuring them to ensure the borehole is delivered.

Eventually, a survey team was sent. Although it took a while for the borehole to be drilled, it eventually happened. To date, Margaret has remained a star among fellow women in Uwukot. She has been central in pushing for services including in the health sector. Empowered woman enables Uwokot village in Pallisa district to get its first borehole Margaret Agwang from Owukot village, Gogonyo subcounty in Pallisa district understands her rights and responsibilities as a citizen of Uganda.