KAMPALA: National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has demanded that Uganda Police Force pays its outstanding bill of sh14.6b or face disconnection in the next three days.
The seven-day notice issued by the corporation to Police on Monday now has three days to elapse.
The communication was contained in a letter dated January 10, 2022, signed by Sylvia Alinaitwe on behalf of the national water managing director, Silver Mugisha and addressed to the Uganda Police Force undersecretary.
The notice, according to the corporation, comes after Police failed to meet their end of the bargain, despite several engagements.
For instance, the corporation issued a letter to Police on November 29, 2021, to pay up its outstanding bill in vain.
It is against this background that another notice was written by the corporation to Police on Monday.
A copy of the letter was received by the Uganda Police headquarters on the same day.
“We wish to draw to your attention that the delayed settlement of the verified domestic arrears amounting to sh14.6b has not only hampered the operations of the corporation, but also immensely affected delivery of our service to the public,” NWSC warned Police.
“You need to note that the corporation has obligations to fulfil for the smooth delivery of service, which we are currently facing difficulty with because of the delayed settlement of arrears,” the corporation added.
Part of the obligations national water has to meet include paying Umeme, buying chemicals to treat water, as well as procuring pipes and fitting them.
However, following several notices, national water resolved to disconnect the Police off its water supply.
“Accordingly, the corporation is left with no option, but to withdraw the services from Uganda Police Force premises if no firm commitment is made to clear the above arrears within seven days from the date of this letter. This notice also serves as last communication in regard to the subject matter,” the letter read.
High bill
On average, Uganda Police Force consumes water worth sh4.5b every three months. However, they only pay sh2.7b quarterly to National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC).
However, a source at the corporation said the bills accrued over time also point towards under budgeting or diversion of funds intended to clear utilities.
For instance, the sh14.6b arrears were accrued over the financial year of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.
Some of the top Police bosses Daily Post spoke to declined to comment on the matter, saying they did not have any knowledge on the force’s utility issues.
However, it emerged yesterday that the top bosses were locked up in a public advisory committee.
Sources said the outstanding water bill was one of the issues tabled in a recent meeting.
