The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NW&SC) is to introduce a pre-paid metering system to address water needs of the urban poor and curb the increasing number of unscrupulous water dealers. A 20-litre jerrican of water costs between UGX 50 (EUR 0.02) and UGX 200 (EUR 0.09), while pre-paid water will cost them UGX 11 (EUR 0.005) according to managing director, Dr. William Muhairwe.

EUR 3 million from the German government would be spend on the project. The corporation also wants US$ 4 million (EUR 3,1 million) to install additional pipes in the lake to supply more water.

Simwogerere Kyazze writes in his opinion piece in The Nation that the poor “will never see the link between NW&SC's spanking new pre-paid water metres [...] and the incessant elections (whose total bill would probably ensure that every Ugandan has access to some clean water every day for a long time).”

Two other issues raised by the NW&SC are the revision of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on water and sewerage services "so that water costs are reduced; and providing access to free sewer connections for all customers whose premises are within 60 to 70 metres of main sewer line." NW&SC has earmarked UGX 5 billion (EUR 2.14 million) for the free sewer connections.

Related news: Namibia: NGO slams prepaid water scheme, Source Weekly, 10 Apr 2006

Web site: Food & Water Watch - Prepaid Water ; Public Citizen - Pre-Paid Water Meters

Contact: National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), contact form

Sources: Mary Karugaba, New Vision / allAfrica.com, 8 Aug 2006; Agness Nandutu, The Monitor / allAfrica.com, 5 Aug 2006; Simwogerere Kyazze, The Nation / allAfrica.com, 13 Aug 2006; Mary Karugaba, New Vision / allAfrica.com, 4 Aug 2006; Agness Nandutu, The Monitor / allAfrica.com, 14 Aug 2006

Tags: financing