Pardon the broken record! Illegal water use is a prevalent challenge that undermines the sustainability of water resources and strains the operations of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), which has employed an array of arsenals against the vice. However, there might be hope if one continues to consider winning communities over to aid in the fight. Simply put, stakeholder engagement can be quite a powerful weapon against illegal water use.
The NWSC’s Najjanankumbi branch, led by Branch Engineer Akugizibwe Gilbert, recently put it to the test as the team participated in an engagement session with key stakeholders in a meeting that highlighted the urgent need to combat illegal water use and infrastructure (pipes and water meters) vandalism.
The Nazziba Cell LC One committee, Makindye-Sabagabo representatives, and local residents present were on board to discuss this prevalent issue as Eng. Akugizibwe took the lead and provided clear guidance on how the locals can aid in the fight by being a lot more vigilant and protecting their meters as well, especially in light of increasing theft incidents that threaten to disrupt services.
Eng. Akugizibwe continued to educate the stakeholders on how they can reach the NWSC toll-free number to report any suspicious persons, with an emphasis on the impact of water theft on their very own supply.
The conversation then made its way to health and sanitation concerns, with Eng. Akugizibwe stressing the importance of safeguarding water sources from contamination and also urging the community to respect reserves, explaining that doing so would not only facilitate utility installations but also improve overall service delivery.
The session was met with a positive response from the residents, who commended NWSC for its consistent service and expressed a strong commitment to continued collaboration. Several community complaints were raised during the meeting, all of which were noted for further action.
This engagement may have added to Najjanankumbi’s web of allies committed to the cause.
