Wobulenzi Town Council Suspends New Water Tariffs

Wobulenzi town council has suspended the revised water tariffs following protests by residents.

On February 2012, Transit Limited, the company contracted by the Town Council to distribute water in the town increased the price of a unit of water from shillings 1500-2000 citing the high power tariff and inflation.

However, the decision to revise the water tariff didn’t go down well with the residents. They accused the authorities of exploitation and threatened to stage a demonstration. They demanded the suspension of the new tariff immediately.

On Thursday, Wobulenzi town council convened an emergency meeting and grilled Phionah Tukundakwe, Director Trandit Limited and her manager Philemon Balikusubi, for revising the water tariff without authorization by the authorities.

Sebastian Ssebagala, Wobulenzi town council LC 3 chairman told URN that Trandit Limited didn’t follow the right procedures  to increase the power tariffs.

He says that the company is required to consult consumers and send recommendations to the council for approval, and finally to the Water and Environment minister for the final approval. 

Ssebagala says that they were shocked to see the revised rate on the consumer’s bills and threats by residents to stage protests. He says that after the meeting, they resolved to suspend the revised tariff increments. They also resolved that water consumers who had made payments under the new rates be compensated.

The company was also ordered to apologize to the consumers, town council authority and follow the right procedures with substantial recommendations so that the tariffs can be revised.

Philemon Balikusubi, the manager Trandit Limited refused to comment on the matter but his director Phionah Tukundakwe apologized to councilors and accused him of hiking the fees without consulting her. She promised to implement the directive by the council.

Zaake Balyejuusa, councilor Wobulenzi East says that there is no need for increment until the company ensures steady water supply. He explains that under the agreement the company gets 95 percent of the profits and remits only five percent to the council. He accuses the company of failing to expand its operations since only 750 of the 70,000 residents can access water in town council.