To effectively combat water theft, the team deployed sophisticated monitoring techniques and conducted rigorous audits of water meters with a mission to unearth discrepancies such as meter bypasses and tampering that enable consumers to illegally access water. By honing in on large-scale consumers, they enforced compliance with water usage regulations, aiming to significantly reduce NRW and improve revenue collection. This initiative was not just about plugging leaks in the system, but also about ensuring that the revenue generated can be reinvested into the community, enhancing overall service delivery.

Mr. Richard Nuwahereza, a key figure in the Water Loss Unit, highlighted how a combination of technical prowess and on-the-ground inspections was essential to their strategy, and how vigilant monitoring of water consumption patterns and anomalies in billing data often pointed to illegal activities, stressing that accounts showing consistent low water bills despite high consumption rates are often red flags that prompt further investigation.

Nuwahereza detailed the team’s recent success in uncovering three significant cases of meter bypass, a tactic that significantly undermines revenue collection. Through meticulous investigations, they confirmed illegal installations at the City Abattoir, Centenary Park, and Water Lounge on Acacia Avenue. These unauthorized setups allowed consumers to sidestep accurate billing, effectively stealing water and depriving the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) of crucial funds. “This loss of revenue directly impedes NWSC’s capacity to invest in infrastructure improvements and extend service delivery to underserved areas,” Nuwahereza noted.

As Kampala’s population continues to grow, ensuring that every drop of water is accounted for becomes increasingly vital. Therefore, in this concerted effort against NRW, the message is clear: water theft will not be tolerated, and every measure will be taken to secure the integrity of water supply.