The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
By Julius Businge
State managed National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has today (Aug. 14) launched a joint Water Loss Prevention Unit (WALOPU) with Uganda Police to fight water theft and illegal water use in Kampala Water Supply Area and other towns in Uganda.
Speaking at the launch of the Unit in Bugoloobi, a Kampala Suburb, the Corporation’s Managing Director, Silver Mugisha, said the country losses billions of shillings to water thieves every year which is why it was necessary to launch the Unit.
“We are working with police because they have a mandate to work during day and night,” he said, adding the Unit will help the Corporation patrol different areas of the Water Body’s operation all the time, increase its income and be able to run profitably. Prior to the launch, Mugisha said, the water body had for a period of four months worked with a few police officers and managed to apprehend over 400 suspects, raising Shs 99 million worth of fines.
“That shows you that this partnership is crucial,” he said.
NWSC currently operates in 66 towns with a plan to expand to others year-on-year. The Corporation extended 460kms of water mains across the country in the first six months of this year. It will extend 908kms of water pipes and 31kms of sewer pipes across the country in FY2014/2015, officials say.
