How Kampala tycoons steal water

Reports from the ongoing clampdown on defaulters or those with illegal connection of piped water dubbed Operation Wet Storm indicate that the biggest culprits are city tycoons, private schools, hotel owners, hostels, and Members of Parliament. “We have even a church in Nakulabye being run by Americans. We have caught lawyers, Members of Parliament and these are businesses and people who have the money,” Ms Vivien Newumbe, the NWSC publicist, said.

NWSC is set to attach property or sue prominent individuals beginning next week because of failure to clear water bills and fines having being netted consuming the services illegally.

According to the Corporation Legal Services manager, Ms Irene Mwase, four law firms have been contracted to recover over Shs2.5b from an estimated 400 city businesses and individuals who did not respond to repeated reminders to settle their accounts with NWSC. She said since Operation Wet Storm was launched last September, the corporation has managed to recover an estimated Shs1.9 billion from illegal water consumers.

It is estimated that the corporation loses close to Shs2b every month to illegal water connections. Water theft contributes to 30 per cent loss of the estimated 170,000 liters that are pumped every day.

The head of the Revenue Protection Unit at NWSC, Mr Yann Jodeau, said over 35 per cent of the water supplied by the Corporation is stolen through bypassing and tempering with water meters. He said illegal water connections negatively affect honest water users because illegal connections lead to lower pressure and contamination as dirt enters through illegal connection points.

The Corporation decided last month to publish names of 50 persons and businesses that owe it money ranging from Shs1 million and above.
Among the properties are Kalungi Plaza and Kirumira Plaza.

When this newspaper tried to contact some of the named defaulters, the majority claimed the bill was either exaggerated or they were in court over the matter.
Top Motor Garage and Services Washing Bay is facing a fine of Shs21m. When contacted on telephone, Mr Isaac Kizza, against whom the water account is registered, claimed to have stopped working at the washing bay where he was a supervisor.

When Saph School in Nansana which, is facing a Shs10m fine was contacted, the headmaster, Mr Apollo Kiggundu, acknowledged the fine blaming it on school children who tampered with the meter. “The children tampered with the meter and we never knew about it. But we are talking with them so that we clear the bill.”

The manager Steak Out Bar and Restaurant which is facing a Shs27m fine laughed it off saying it was ridiculous. “We are in court. Our lawyers are sorting it out. We are challenging them on that,” said Mr John Mwangi, the manager.

Another culprit, Mr Fredrick Mukisa, said he operated a washing bay in Bwaise which has since closed. He contested the Shs57m fine saying by the time he closed the washing bay, he had a bill of Shs1.2m but wondered how it shot up to Shs57m. “Yes they gave me a bill of Shs1.2 million, how has it jumped to Shs57m?”