From 1 July 2026, households served by National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) pay UGX 5,096 per m3 for water, excluding VAT. Under the July 2022 schedule the domestic rate was UGX 3,727, so it has risen 36.7% in four years. The July 2024 schedule set it at UGX 4,307.
How the rate is set
NWSC's tariff structure is approved by the Minister of Water and Environment, and its rates are indexed each 1 July against the domestic price index, the exchange rate, a foreign price index and electricity charges. Electricity matters: the weighted tariff NWSC paid for power rose from 327 UGX/kWh in FY 2021/22 to 355 UGX/kWh in FY 2022/23.
Not every customer moves at the same pace
Large industrial users have seen a smaller rise. The industrial tariff for use above 1,000 m3 a month went from UGX 2,500 in 2022 to UGX 2,950 in 2026, so industrial users now pay 57.9% of the domestic rate. Institutions and Government pay UGX 5,157 per m3 under the 2026 schedule. At public standpipes, the 2022 schedule set UGX 1,060 per m3, or UGX 25 for a 20-liter jerrycan including VAT.
What customers get for it
NWSC reported bacteriological compliance of 100% for water in supply in FY 2023/24 and a customer satisfaction score of 79% in FY 2024/25, against an 80% target. Complaints reached 213,257 in FY 2023/24, with 99.9% resolved.
How tariffs sit alongside NWSC's finances, government arrears, major projects and 2030 targets is covered in the full profile, which also sets out its supply, network, wastewater and governance figures. The full report, Utility Intelligence Profile: National Water and Sewerage Corporation, is available for USD 99. For a free overview, read the National Water and Sewerage Corporation Utility Snapshot.