An official from National Water and Sewerage Corporation disconnects an illegal connection in Kampala recently. FILE PHOTO
In Summary
Shifted. The agencies have been connected to pre-paid metering.
The Ministry of Defence and Uganda Prison Services are facing disconnection from national water due to an accumulated bill of about Shs7.9 billion.
In two separate letters dated May 24 and 25, National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has informed the two government agencies that their lines have been connected to the pre-paid metering system, which will automatically disconnect them from the grid, within two weeks from May 30, if their bills are not cleared. “Please be reminded that after two weeks from today, the prepaid meter on Luzira account will automatically disconnect water supply if no payment is made to cover the arrears and credit advanced,” reads a May 24 letter to the Under Secretary of the Uganda Prison Services.
According to the letter signed by Mr George Okol, on behalf of the managing director, Uganda Prisons has outstanding arrears of Shs1.832 billion as of March 30, 2016.
Mr Okol also asked Prisons to ensure that adequate credit is available to cover current consumption.
“To allow uninterrupted water supply, a credit equivalent to two weeks consumption amounting to Shs80 million shall be advanced to Luzira account,” reads the letter requesting for adequate credit to cover current consumption and arrears.
In a separate letter dated May 25 to the permanent secretary ministry of Defence, NWSC is demanding outstanding arrears worth Shs6.103 billion as of April 30, 2016.
“…You are hereby required to process payment to cover the credit, outstanding arrears and any current bills on this account. Please note that after the two weeks from May 30, the prepaid meter on Mbuya hill account will automatically disconnect water supply if no payment is made to cover the arrears in full and credit advanced,” reads part of the letter.
The letter was responding to a directive from the secretary to the treasury in which NWSC was directed to install prepaid meters on government ministries and departments so as to avoid further accumulation of arrears on water bills.
Mr Okol also wrote that NWSC will effective May 30 commence and activate prepaid water supply after following up with payment of outstanding water bills.
According to the letter, the Ministry of Defence is required to ensure Shs10 million of credit for two weeks consumption of water at Mbuya hill.
Mr Frank Baine, the Prison publicist, said the debt accumulated because of little money allocated to the Service (Prisons) for utilities.
“We get about 40 per cent of what was required for utilities. That means accumulation of debts but I am sure negotiations will be held to resolve the problem,” he said in a telephone interview.
Talking about the bill, former State minister for Defence Jeje Odongo told Daily Monitor that the figures are not accurate and are yet to be verified.
“We have been having a problem with our service providers. We have not been agreeing on meter readings and as a result we formed a joint committee to verify the correctness of the bills,” said Lt Gen Odongo.
He said NWSC is part of the ongoing verification exercise.
A review of NWSC third quarter report for the financial year 2015/16 indicates that the corporation registered improvement in both financial and operational performance with a turnover of Shs202.1 billion representing a growth of 22 percent from Shs165.6 billion from the same period in the year 2014/15.
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