Supply of Faulty Motor, Power Outage Prolong Water Crisis in Luwero Town Council

The supply of a faulty motor and intermittent power supply have prolonged the water crisis in Luwero Town Council, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Luwero branch Manager, Ronald Kisaakye has revealed. The more than 10,000 NWSC customers are now counting the ninth day with dry water taps.   

The problem started on October 5th, 2021 following a general power blackout resulting from a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds, which caused immense damage such as the collapse of electricity poles and short-circuits in the area. This affected the water pumps plunging the area into a water crisis.    

Speaking to Uganda Radio Network (URN on Friday last week, Ronald Kisaakye, the NWSC Manager Luwero branch, said that they registered high voltage at the water pump causing their motor to burn. He said this had caused water supply problems to among other villages Mabanda, Kikubajjinja, Bukuma, Bunyaka, Bunyenye, Kasiiso, Kakuuto, Kasana Market, Kiwogozi and Mabaale.

According to Kisaakye, their efforts to restore water supply suffered a setback when they received a faulty motor, which they had to send back to the supplier. “Hopefully today please, the Motor they gave us had issues. The supplier had to take it back, but we may finish it today, but Umeme may be off today again,” he said. 

Last evening, power users in Luwero received a message from UMEME notifying them about a planned shutdown for three days. “Dear Customer, Power will be off in your area on 13th, 14th and 15th Oct 2021, 8 am -5 pm to allow critical maintenance works. Apologies. Umeme Kasana-Wabigalo,” read the message.