Mulago hospital water supply cut off

Mar 19, 2014

Many patients at Mulago hospital are left stranded after the health facility had its water cut off Tuesday night.

By Violet Nabatanzi

KAMPALA - Many patients at Mulago national referral hospital in Kampala have been left stranded after the health facility had its water cut off Tuesday night.

The hospital’s water supply was disconnected by National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) over unpaid bills amounting to over sh6bn.

In a phone interview with New Vision, the facility’s spokesperson, Enock Kusasira said: “If a hospital does not have water, it affects its operations.”

Water is a key resource in the operations at Mulago hospital – especially in labour wards, for kidney patients who are on dialysis, among others.

Other government bodies have also had their water cut off over unsettled dues in the recent past.

Last month, a disconnection order was issued on February 18 to disconnect water supply of Luzira Prisons headquarters over an outstanding unpaid bill of sh6.7bn.

Hower, water at Luzira Maximum Prison has been temporarily reconnected on condition that the outstanding bill accumulated over the years, is paid in two weeks.

The arrears had accumulated since the 2005-2006 financial year, according to NWSC and that reminders to settle them were not forthcoming.

The corporation’s operation had also seen water at the Nursing School near Mulago hospital cut off.

Around that time, Dr. Silver Mugisha, the managing director of NWSC, revealed that government institutions owed the water body sh30bn.

The army and the police were named among the water defaulters.

NWSC plans to install 300 prepaid water meters to reduce on water losses.

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