(Kampala) – A water crisis has emerged at Luzira Prison following the disconnection of water supply by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) due to unpaid arrears amounting to UGX 18 billion. The disconnection, which took place on August 13, 2024, has raised concerns among Uganda Prisons Services (UPS) officials and has left the prison relying on water bowsers to meet its needs. This situation is seen as a significant challenge to the operations of the prison.
According to Frank Baine, the spokesperson for the Uganda Prisons Services, the Ministry of Finance had released UGX 2.3 billion to NWSC in the first quarter of the financial year 2024/25, as part of a budgeted UGX 7.9 billion intended to settle the water bill. Despite this payment, NWSC proceeded with the disconnection, citing the substantial outstanding arrears that had accumulated over time.
Baine described the disconnection as a matter of national concern and emphasized that efforts were being made to address the crisis. He noted that discussions were ongoing between the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, UPS, and NWSC to restore normal water supply to the prison. In the meantime, Baine urged both prisoners and staff to remain calm, assuring them that long-term solutions were being sought to resolve the issue.
The situation has also brought attention to the broader issue of unpaid debts owed by various government agencies to NWSC. Sources within NWSC, speaking to the media, expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of effort by UPS to address the outstanding debt. The source suggested that the situation was being politicized, as UPS had not made any meaningful attempts to negotiate payment plans or settle the debt.
The issue of unpaid utilities by government agencies has been a recurring problem. In October of the previous year, Dr. Emmanuel Otala, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Budama South, pledged to assist NWSC in recovering the funds owed to them by government bodies. NWSC has reported significant financial losses due to non-payment, and the ongoing disconnection at Luzira Prison is a stark example of the impact of these unpaid bills.
In May of the previous year, NWSC had issued warnings to the Uganda Police and Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, threatening to cut off their water supply if they failed to pay their outstanding bills, which amounted to UGX 19 billion. The continued failure of government entities to settle their debts has created challenges for NWSC in delivering services to other users, further complicating the situation.
