news 16 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Lira City Tenants Escape Punitive Estimated Water Bills After Faulty Meter Revelation
Tenants in Lira City have raised concerns about exorbitant water bills resulting from estimated readings by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) due to inaccessible or faulty meters. A recent investigation uncovered a faulty meter, leading to a confirmed overpayment and a promise of bill adjustment and replacement. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/how-to-escape-estimated-water-billing-5497954
Residents in Lira City have been grappling with significantly inflated water bills for extended periods, leading to frustration and financial strain. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has been resorting to estimated billing for some consumers when its staff are unable to access water meters for physical readings. This practice, however, has become a recurring nightmare for many, as seen in the case of two tenants who were charged between Shs50,000 and Shs70,000 monthly for six months, despite minimal water usage.
The issue came to a head when a new bill for Shs113,891 was issued. Upon manual inspection, a discrepancy of 24 units was identified, prompting further investigation. An official verification by an NWSC team on June 11 confirmed that the water meter was indeed faulty. The corporation apologized for the inconvenience, promising to rectify the bill and replace the defective meter, bringing relief to the affected tenants.
Business advocate Francis Ogema Awany highlighted that this is not an isolated incident in Lira City. He stated, “I don’t remember when my physical water metre reading was last taken. I always pay bills based on estimates.” He added that “thousands of water consumers are facing that nightmare.”
NWSC Lira Area Manager, Gerazio Tukahirwa, explained that estimated bills are generated when staff cannot access meters, often due to locked gates or outdated contact information. He noted that while the system is designed to self-correct through credit balances for overpayment, it can lead to substantial back-billing when estimates are consistently low. He also mentioned logistical challenges faced by field officers, each managing around 3,000 accounts, which can result in skipped meter readings.
To mitigate such issues, Mr. Tukahirwa advised customers to provide their phone numbers to NWSC or submit clear photos of their meter readings. Regarding high water tariffs, he clarified that NWSC operates as an implementer of government policies, with water tariffs and Value Added Tax (VAT) determined by Parliament. The recent introduction of VAT on water services, he explained, has significantly increased bills for consumers.