University of Rwanda's journalism school water supply cut off over debt

The Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) has cut off connection to University of Rwanda’s School of Journalism and Communication in Nyarugenge over unpaid bills accumulated over time. The students have gone without water for nearly two weeks now. WASAC Nyarugenge branch manager Bernard Byamugisha said the university owes them Rwf5.7 million accumulated over a period of two years. “They have not paid a coin since February 2014, on top of other bills owed earlier,” said Byamugisha. He said they notified the university about the water bills but did not receive any feedback. But the acting Dean of Students, Joseph Njuguna, said WASAC cut off the water supply without informing them.He said they were in touch with the estate manager of the Nyarugenge campus for the way forward. Olivier Karibori, the estate manager, said WASAC spent the whole of last year without giving them water bills. He attributed the seemingly high bill to different conferences that have taken place at the campus during the period demanding more water volumes. “We normally pay our bills in time, but it is their problem not billing us,” Karibori said. He explained that before the merger of the institutions to make University of Rwanda, the School of Journalism was under Huye department and they were responsible for paying the bills. But after the merger, the school is under UR’s College of Science and Technology. “Usually WASAC gives monthly bills and cuts off water if payment is not done in fifteen days; we wonder why they spent the whole year without billing us. We can’t be blamed for that,” Karibori added. A cleaner at the campus, as well as students, said maintaining sanitation has become a challenge because they fetch water from far off places. “Sometimes there is no water in the toilets, hygiene is generally compromised,” said Patrick Rulinda, a fourth year student. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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University of Rwanda's journalism school water supply cut off over debt