Police named in selling of NWSC water

TORORO. Officials of National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) have accused police officers attached to Fire Brigade Department of selling the water they fetch from the corporation’s line for private gain.
“Our mutual understanding states that police draw water freely to fight fires but it has come to our notice that in some areas, the police have taken it as a normal business to supply water to institutions and individuals,” Mr Silver Mugisha, the corporation’s managing director, said during the commissioning of a 7,500-litre water facility in Busia Town Council on Saturday.
Mr Mugisha said the respective police commanders should prevail over their errant officers to stop abusing the corporation’s water.
He, however, attributed water shortages in Busia District and other parts of the country to unreliable supply of electricity.
He said NWSC has put in place measures such as generators to address unreliable power supply, drilling at least two boreholes in every area of its network and increasing the number of public stand pipes to solve water shortages. “This is aimed at making communities fetch water at as low as Shs50 per 20-litre jerrycan,” he said.
Mr Paul Kalikwani, the Busia deputy Resident District Commissioner, said the implicated police officers attached to the Fire Brigade will be summoned before the district security committee.
“This is not the first time, this complaint is being raised but we are going to handle it,” he said.
Mr Cissy Tusingwire, the Bukedi Regional Police Commander, said they would take action on culpable officers.
“There is no doubt that such characters have infiltrated police but we are going to investigate and they will be punished,” he said.
The Busia Municipality mayor, Mr Hassan Opio Bwire, applauded NWSC for providing safe and clean water to the residents.