National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC), together with the government, have resolved to have water reconnected to key health centers following a disconnection due to unpaid bills.

China Friendship Hospital in Naguru with Ugx 1.3 billion in debt, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital with Ugx 488 million in debt, and Hoima Regional Referral Hospital are the health centers that had been disconnected over non-payment but were later reconnected.

The Managing Director of NWSC, Eng. Silver Mugisha, said that a breakthrough to have water reconnected was achieved with the government following the meeting they held on June 6, 2023, at the Office of the Prime Minister with Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.

Mugisha said that the meeting was also attended by some key heads from government departments, ministers, and agencies, like the Minister of Health, the Minister of Water and Environment, and the Minister of Finance.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Finance pledged to have the issue of water in government agencies resolved and all arrears cleared by the end of July 2023.

Sheila Odoki, the Administrator of Naguru Hospital, confirmed that water reconnection at China Friendship Hospital in Naguru was done on the evening of Wednesday, June 7, 2023, by NWSC.

“National Water reconnected on Wednesday evening water to the hospital, and the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Finance, Ramathan Ggoobi, promised that the ministry would clear the bills before the end of July 2023,” she said.

China Friendship Hospital, Naguru, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, and Hoima Regional Referral Hospital faced a crisis for more than a week due to accumulated unpaid bills, which affected over 3.7 million people that access the hospitals for medical attention.