MPs grill NWSC over high water tariffs

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Lawmakers on Wednesday clashed with National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) officials over high water prices.

This played out during a meeting on January 8, 2025, with the National Economy Committee chaired by John Bosco Ikojo (Bukedea County, NRM). The meeting also featured State Minister for Finance, Henry Musasizi, and State Minister for Kampala Affairs, Kabuye Kyofatogabye.

NWSC was represented by Eng. Johnson Amayo, the deputy managing director.

At the heart of the discussion was the Government’s request to borrow €45 million (equivalent to sh171.6 billion) from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to fund the second phase of the Kampala Water-Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project (KW-LVWATSAN).

The undertaking aligns with official statistics predicting that water demand within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) will increase to over 400,000 cubic meters per day by 2030 and 530,000 cubic meters per day by 2040.

During the hearing, Bugabula South MP, Maurice Kibalya, questioned whether the hefty loan would translate into tangible relief for ordinary Ugandans who are bearing the brunt of high water charges.

National economy committee sitting on Wednesday. (Credit: Edith Namayanja)

“One of the challenges in the rural areas and areas they have reached is the cost. The cost of national water is so high that even in Kamuli Municipality, where National Water is, people have resorted to taking water from boreholes rather than consuming National Water, making the project not profitable. The unit cost I think is sh5000,” Kibalya pointed out.

“I don’t know the number of jerrycans, but the issue is this National Water. We get loans, do the project, have the water go to the public, and look for ways of repaying the loan. Meaning the consumer and non-consumer participate in paying the loan. Why has that unit cost remained high, and why should we continue having it and people are sitting in the committee and praising National Water?” he further wondered.

Chipping in, Jane Avur Pacuto (Pakwach Woman MP, NRM) said, “I looked at the specific objectives and I see that there is going to be increased supply of water in Kampala and surrounding areas, and economics tells us when there is increased supply, prices have to come down.”

John Bosco Ikojo (Bukedea County) the national economy committee chairperson. (Credit: Edith Namayanja)

NWSC responds

“In the villages, we charge sh25 for a jerrycan from a tap. This sh25 per jerrycan is to the vendor who sells the water to the community. However, there are situations where vendors try to overcharge. That matter is for all of us. You’re elected leaders, you should be able to mobilise the communities and tell them,” Eng. Amayo said in defence.

However, Kibalya persisted, questioning why this price is not reflected at his home. In response, he was informed that the unit cost for domestic water usage, including VAT, stood at sh100 per day. This raised more questions than answers.

“I have a compound where I connect using one meter. It goes to my house up and some people come and fetch from there. It is charged at sh100. So, which one is public? The one at the playground?” Kibalya inquired.

“Either it was at the end of December or the first week of January, I listened to the Ministry of Energy telling Ugandans that the cost of tariff for the unit of electricity is coming down and the MD has just told us one of the cost drivers for the production of water is electricity. Now that the cost is coming down, we are the same Government, why don’t we work in tandem,” Pacuto pleaded.