NWSC Investigating Irregular Water Bills

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation –NWSC is carrying out investigations into the irregular water bills.

The investigations follow complaints from customers about high water bills incurred during the on-going Katosi Water Works that have led to continuous water shortages in many parts of Kampala.

The 350 Billion Shillings Katosi Water Project is being executed by SOGEA Satom Limited on behalf of NWSC. The water project is expected to boost water supply to Kampala Metropolitan area once completed.

Due to the construction works, water with in Kampala has been rationed. However despite these rations, residents of Kampala are complaining about high water bills.

According to NWSC management, they have received more than 200 complaints in the last seven months from customers regarding high water bills, despite continuous water rationing in many parts of Kampala and surrounding districts.

"The complainants say that they spend four days of the week without water but their water bills are higher than when water was flowing," Caroline Kyomugihsa, the branch manager of NSWC Ntinda said. The investigations will last three months.

Dr Silver Mugisha, the NWSC Managing Director says that during the investigations, NWSC staff will contact the complainants about their water bills in the past.

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Elizabeth Mwine, a resident of Ntinda says the investigations are timely and will help address the mishap.

“Our bills have been high yet we rarely have water flowing in our taps. I only get flowing water once a week every Thursday but my bill is 600,000 Shillings We are only three people in the household. There’s no explanation for that water usage. So I am happy they are going to look into that,” Mwine said.

The audit comes at a time when the water organization is recording a loss of revenue of Three Billion Shillings. The NWSC boss says he hopes that company will be able to recover some of the money through the audit.

"We request our customers to report meters which are both over and under registering.

We want people to pay for water that they have used. Some meters under register and there are customers who are happy with this but this means reduced revenue. At the end for the exercise, we want everyone to pay for what they use," Mugisha said.