Newslex Point News in Uganda, Uganda news
The results of these investigations revealed that some big water consumers have been tampering with the meters to suppress consumption.
According to officials, the development under careful review involves big water consumers including top government agencies. Focus has been directed towards those in Kampala that use underhand tricks like magnates to reverse actual meter readings.
“For every 100 units of water we put in the system in Kampala, only 60 percent is returned for billing, meaning 40 is lost in the system,” NWSC Managing Director Dr. Silver Mugisha said at the weekend.
The investigation into these random accounts happened after an inquiry by the police. It discovered that seven random accounts suppressed meter readings.
The corporation, therefore, blamed the billing employees for trying to reverse the fraud using unconventional methods. They will therefore face disciplinary proceedings.
However, National Water & Sewage Corporation saw no conspiracy among the staff to defraud or engage in deliberate office abuse. Dr. Mugisha though, said the problem is a double-edged sword for the affected staff.
He said regardless of their actions to right the wrongs, they had used unconventional methods which is unacceptable. Since the development, the utility body has apparently ordered ultrasonic meters to clamp down the tampering.
“We have also ordered for real-time automatic reading devices to put on meters to give us information in real-time. If you try to tamper with it, we will know,” Dr. Mugisha said.
NWSC officials indicate that there’s no reason why consumers should steal water reasoning that the water is affordable. Apparently, a 20ltr jerrycan of water costs shs100 for commercial consumers and shs84 for the same charged to institutions.
Additionally, domestic users are charged UGX.83, while water users at public standpipes are charged UGX.25 — all per 20-litre jerrycan.
Check Also;
- YAKA Part 2: Like Umeme, NWSC Develops Pre-Paid Water Meter
- NWSC To Host Africa Water Academy
- Decline In Profits Recorded At UMEME
Please use the button below to contribute to Newslex Point, Inc. using a credit card or via PayPal.
![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://i0.wp.com/newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg?resize=300%2C160&ssl=1)
