BY JOACKIM KULE
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Kasese District has condemned the management of National Water and Sewerage Corporation for not allegedly intensifying their surveillance aimed at curbing the vandalism of water meters.
The vandalism of water meters has become a growing concern among the residents in Kasese Municipality for the past one and half months.
The mostly affected communities are the people living in the cells of Kidodo, Katadoba, Kihalimu, Kiteso, Kamaiba, Saluti A and B among others.
According to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, at least 300 water meters have so far been vandalized and stolen.
Now, the Kasese District FDC Chairperson, Mr. Ronald Bwambale Kabuku faults the management of National Water and Sewerage Corporation for not allegedly intervening and helping the communities to curb the vice.
According to him, they have not appreciated the stand of the management of National Water and Sewerage Corporation together with the police about their interventions into the matter.
He suspects that some of the vandalizers could be among the employees of National Water and Sewerage Corporation because they have the skill to connect and disconnect the taps.
Kabuku also questions the security operatives that are mandated with the role of carrying out night patrols, arguing that they might have slept on job.
He wonders why water meters are being stolen daily even when night patrols are in place.
Responding to the concerns, the Kasese Branch Manager for the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Mr. Andrew Muhumuza, sympathized with the residents in some parts of Kasese town for losing their water meters.
Speaking to Messiah Radio, Muhumuza says that they have always wondered and failed to identify the people who might have gotten involved in vandalizing people’s water meters, advising the residents to relocate their water meters to safer places.
He dismisses claims that stolen water meters are allegedly reading increased bills, saying that those with outstanding debts could be the ones being notified of the debts but not those who have no debts.
ENDS