Water Meter Thefts Surge in Mbale

Homeowners and businesses have been left stranded after their meters mysteriously vanished, fuelling suspicions of a black-market operation involving NWSC staff.

Residents of Mbale are grappling with a surge in water meter thefts, exacerbating water shortages in the region as a prolonged dry spell persists.

Homeowners and businesses have been left stranded after their meters mysteriously vanished, fuelling suspicions of a black-market operation involving National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) staff.

Richard, a guesthouse manager, recounted his ordeal after an NWSC official conducted a routine meter reading at his property on February 7.

“Minutes after the reading, neighbours alerted me to water gushing from the ground,” he said. “When I went to the NWSC office, they insisted they had left the meter behind.”

He soon discovered he was not alone. The manager of Mbale Resort Hotel and other residents from Musoto reported similar losses, raising concerns over the fate of the missing meters.

Richard’s frustration grew when he was asked to pay Shs101,000 for a replacement, only to be left waiting for over a week without one, severely affecting his business.

Posiano Mulalu, a resident of Kinyole B, reported losing two meters in quick succession. Determined to prevent further thefts, he secured his third meter with a metallic casing and reinforced it with concrete.

The widespread nature of the thefts has fueled suspicions of internal collusion.

"It seems like the stolen meters are being rotated between different clients," Richard speculated. A local plumber, who requested anonymity, suggested that the thefts were driven by the valuable brass and copper components inside the meters, making them attractive to scrap dealers.

However, NWSC Mbale General Manager Badru Wandwasi dismissed allegations of staff involvement, explaining that water meters are serialized and linked to specific customer reference numbers and locations.

Instead, he attributed the thefts to a network of scrap dealers working with local thieves.

“On average, 10 to 20 meters are stolen monthly in Mbale, but we’ve seen cases spike to as many as 30 meters in a single night,” Wandwasi said.

The thefts extend beyond water meters, with criminals also targeting metallic pipes and manhole covers, forcing NWSC to replace stolen cast-iron covers with concrete alternatives.

“This is a nationwide problem, and we believe scrap dealers are behind it. A stolen meter cannot be reused in another area,” he added.

Authorities have been working with police and local leaders to curb the thefts. In November 2024, the arrest of two suspects linked to house-to-house meter thefts temporarily eased the situation.

“Two individuals were committed to Maluku prison for vandalism and theft of water meters,” Wandwasi noted, though he acknowledged that the problem has resurged in recent weeks.

To prevent further losses, he urged residents to verify NWSC staff identities to avoid impostors and to take precautions such as installing protective chambers or securing meters with concrete. He also encouraged victims to report thefts to the police for proper tracking and case documentation.