Meanwhile, the prepaid metering is self-monitoring as supply is tabulated based on the amount of money deposited either through the mobile money accounts to the system or through bank services.
The National Water and Sewerage Corporation-NWSC has introduced prepaid digital water meters in Gulu City to improve service delivery and combat illegal consumption. Over the years, the water billing system relied on post-paid meters, with consumers paying according to the bills tabulated at each supply interval. Periodically, the enforcement team from NWSC would monitor connections and consumption, disconnecting supply from defaulters once detected.
In contrast, the prepaid metering system is self-monitoring, with supply tabulated according to the funds deposited through mobile money accounts or bank services.
In a recent interview, Ivan Tekakwo, the Northern Region Public Relations Officer for NWSC, told Uganda Radio Network that the new system will be rolled out in 140 locations within the city.
These 140 locations will be monitored jointly by the Local Councils (LCs), targeting communities that cannot afford piped water installations in their homes. These installations are expected to be completed by February.
Once fully operational, the daily water supply in Gulu City will increase from 6 million liters to about 20 million liters, alleviating the current supply shortfall of approximately 4 million liters.
Daily water consumption in Gulu City is projected to rise from between 8 to 10 million liters to about 20 million liters, drawing from both reservoirs at Custom Corner and Oitino Dam.
The World Bank and KFW jointly funded the Karuma-Gulu Water Project, which has already procured 10 million liters of water in the reservoirs at Custom Corner in Bardege-Layibi Division, pending distribution.
Although the project is facing some liability defects, Tekakwo noted that connections to the final users are tentatively expected to be completed by mid-February according to the proposed implementation plan.
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While the Karuma-Gulu water project aims to supply 30 million liters of water to Gulu City, this will be done in phases, with an additional 20 million liters expected to reach Gulu within the next 16 years.
The city currently has a total of 359 public water stand posts, although only 234 of them are operational. 125 have been abandoned due to complaints of mismanagement and high bills for consumers.
Despite public outcry over high water costs during dry spells, Tekakwo stated that 20 liters of water from the NWSC is sold at 50 shillings.
“We don’t expect water for domestic use to go beyond 100 shillings by the people we subcontract for supply to the public. It’s a condition they should comply with,” Tekakwo explained in an interview.
In some areas, however, the cost of water per jerrycan varies from 100 shillings to 500 shillings, with the most affected households located in annexed areas and suburbs, prompting locals to turn to underground water sources.
Catherine Taban, a long-time resident of Wii Aworanga Cell in the suburbs of Gulu City, can afford monthly water bills of 240,000 shillings for her domestic use but expressed concern over billing inconsistencies.
“There are months I get less than 100,000 shillings as costs attached to domestic consumption, but some months, the cost is high, yet it’s the same meter reading,” Taban told Uganda Radio Network.
Additionally, Taban noted that access to piped water is limited for many families, as the National Water has not connected most households, leading residents to rely on unsafe wells.
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She is hopeful that the digital supply of water will eliminate exploitation from both the National Water system and individuals selling water at different public stand posts.
Jacob Olwoch, a resident of Senior Quarters, has similarly complained about inconsistencies in monthly water bills, alleging that fraud is occurring within the National Water supply chain.
With just two households in a one-block residential building consuming about 12 jerrycans of water daily, Olwoch revealed that their bill soared to 700,000 shillings in August last year.
Despite complaining to NWSC, Olwoch explained that they were forced to pay the bill, with a promise that the faulty meter reader would be rectified, which did not happen.
“The National Water sells us each 20 liters of water at 50 shillings, but if you use 12 jerrycans each day, then you know how much we are being cheated each month,” Olwoch said. Joseph Oringa, the Local Council Two Chairperson (LCII) for For-God Ward, noted that the area, which includes three cells, has only three public boreholes and no public stand posts providing piped water.
Oringa commented that the majority of affected households are struggling with limited access to reliable water sources. Gulu Mayor Alfred Okwonga challenged NWSC to plan for the distribution of water to annexed areas to address the water crisis in those areas.
Simon Wokorach
Freelancer