Water users in Hoima town have expressed dissatisfaction with the unreliable water supply services offered by National Water and Sewerage Corporation-NWSC. They claim that sometimes they spend a week without water, which forces them to incur extra costs to buy water from vendors. The vendors sell a 20 liter jerry can of water at shillings 500 but sometimes its goes up to shillings 1000.
Anita Nyangoma, a house wife and resident of Kiryatete East in Hoima municipality says at times her tap just flashes and the water disappears. Nyangoma says despite the unreliable water service she shoulders a huge water bill at the end of each month. Arthur Baguma a civil servant says despite having a tap at his home, he has never used its water as it comes and disappears when he is away at work.
Baguma however says that he is always served with a water bill for no service offered. He says that NWSC owes residents an explanation for the poor service offered to them. Local leaders are too concerned over the poor service by the water supplier. Fredrick Ziiwa Alibankooha, Kahoora Division LC 3 Chairman of breaking its promise to provide water to the residents daily.
The LC3 Chairman explains that he was recently informed by the water suppliers that their reservoirs are too small to meet the water demands of the residents. Grace Mary Mugasa, Hoima Municipal mayor says that she has petitioned the directorate of water Kampala over the irregular supply but has not received a feed back.
She says the municipality cannot the issue of the irregular supply lightly because it is the biggest concern in the municipality. According to Mugasa all urban centers in Uganda are meant to be served with piped water by National Water and Sewerage Corporation. Officials at National Water and Sewerage Corporation Hoima office were unwilling to comment on the residents’ concern when reached.
