Parliamentary Committee Grills Government Agencies over Water Debts
The Natural Resources Committee of Parliament has today grilled heads of different government agencies, mostly hospitals which are defaulting on water bills. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation is owed over Shs105 billion by these institutions.
Records show that government agencies owe the National Water and Sewerage Corporation Shs105 billion, with UPDF owing Shs27.95 billion, Police Shs24.1 billion, Prisons Shs18.27 billion, Mulago Hospital Shs6 billion among others.
The house committee of Natural Resources today interfaced with officials from defaulting agencies and quizzed then on why they frustrate National water by accumulating huge arrears.
Hospital directors led by the Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital Dr. Rose Byanyima, attributed their debt to the Finance Ministry’s refusal to increase their water budgets despite rising patient numbers and water consumption.
Annually, Mulago hospital consumes water worth 7.2bn but the facility is allocated only 3bn budget for water hence leaving a huge shortfall.
The government budgeted for Shs81.6 billion in the current financial year for arrears on water which was released to ministries and agenciex in the second quarter. Hospital administrators told committee that they have received the money and paid part to National water, although the water agency is yet to receive the money on its accounts.
Officials from Uganda Prisons services also tabled evidence to the committed that they have fully paid their 18bn arrears to National Water.
However, Committee Chairperson and also the Soroti City East MP Herbert Edmond Ariko, expressed disappointment with UPDF and Police, saying they have fully received money for water bills arrears but are paying in installments.
Ariko lamented that the government’s failure to increase budgets for water bill of various entities will lead to new debts.
