BrandWikiReturn

National Water and Sewerage Corporation

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is a water supply and sanitation company in Uganda. It is wholly owned by the government of Uganda.[5]

As of October 2023, the company supplied 730000000 m³ of potable water daily to the country. This compares to 276000000 m³ daily output, supplied ten years earlier in 2013. This represents an 85 percent increase over those ten years. As of 2024 the corporation's non-revenue water was 34 percent, with plans to reduce it to 30 percent by 2029. The total population benefitting from NWSC water supply in 2024 was estimated at 18 million, with a target to increase that to 25 million by 2029.[6]

Location

The company, as of July 2018, was in the final stages of construction of its new headquarters building at 3 Nakasero Road, on Nakasero Hill, opposite Rwenzori House.[7][8] The new headquarters building was commissioned by Ruhakana Rugunda, the Prime Minister of Uganda, in July 2018.[9]

History

NWSC was formed by Decree No. 34 in 1972 to serve the urban areas of Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja. In 1995, NWSC was re-organized under the NWSC Statute. The company was given more authority and autonomy and the mandate to operate and provide water and sewerage services in areas entrusted to it, on a sound commercial and viable basis.[4] As of October 2016, the following cities and towns receive services from NWSC:[4]

Expansion plans

In 2011,[10] NWSC began implementing a program to improve water supply to the Kampala Metropolitan Area that includes Kampala City, Wakiso District, Mukono District, Nansana, Ssabagabo, and Kira. The program, which will cost €212 million, is financed by the government of Uganda (€34 million), KfW (€20 million grant), the European Investment Bank (€75 million loan), the French Development Agency (€75 million loan), and the European Union Infrastructure Trust Fund (€8 million grant).[11]

NWSC is planning a new water treatment plant (Katosi Water Works), in Katosi in Mukono District with the capacity to supply 120000 m3 of water daily. The plans also include the refurbishment of the Ggaba complex of water treatment plants (Ggaba 1, Ggaba 2 and Ggaba 3). The Katosi source of water would complement the existing sources that have a daily capacity of 160000 m3.[12][13]

In December 2015, NWSC announced plans to start serving some of Uganda's rural areas.[14] As of March 2018, NWSC offered its services in 225 Ugandan towns and planned to connect services to 12,000 villages within its service areas by 2020.[15]

In February 2026, with funding from the French Development Agency, KfW and the European Investment Bank, NWSC began expansion of the water distribution network in northern and western Kampala as well as neighboring parts of Wakiso District. The works involve increasing production capacity at Katosi Water Works by 80000 m3 per day. New water distribution pipes are being laid and construction of new above-ground water reservoirs is ongoing. The Government of France through AFD has invested €480 million. Completion of construction is anticipated in Q2 of 2027.[16]

Power plant to operate Ggaba water treatment plants

In October 2014, NWSC advertised for a private partner to build, own, and operate a 7 megawatt independent power station to meet the company's energy needs at its Ggaba I, Ggaba II, and Ggaba III water treatment plants. This would lower NWSC's power bill, which stood at approximately USh 24 billion (approx. US$6.5 million) annually, accounting for 35 percent of total operating expenditure. When procured, the partner will sign a 20-year power purchase agreement with NWSC, which will have the option of selling any excess power to the national grid.[17]

Organizational structure

NWSC has numerous divisions, each headed by a director, general manager, senior manager, or manager.[18]

Board of directors

NWSC is governed by a five-member board of directors. Engineer Badru Kiggundu is the chairman and Engineer Silver Mugisha is the managing director and chief executive officer.[19]

See also

External links

References

  1. SoftPower. Engineer Badru Kiggundu Unveiled As New Chairperson Of NWSC Board SoftPower Uganda, 24 July 2020, retrieved 24 July 2020^
  2. Ephraim Kasozi. Water Body Confirms Dr Mugisha As Managing Director Daily Monitor, 4 March 2014, retrieved 25 July 2018^
  3. Bridget Nsimenta. AfWASA Congress: Homegrown solutions, partnerships essential for water access, says NWSC's Mugisha Nile Post Uganda, 20 February 2025, retrieved 20 February 2025^
  4. National Water and Sewerage Corporation. Profile of National Water and Sewerage Corporation National Water and Sewerage Corporation, 30 June 2016, retrieved 25 July 2018^
  5. Little Gate Publishing. Water for All: National Water and Sewerage Corporation Little Gate Publishing, 27 October 2016, retrieved 27 October 2016^
  6. ChimpReports. NWSC Boosts Water Production Capacity by 85% to Support Uganda’s Growing Population ChimpReports, 16 October 2024, retrieved 29 December 2024^
  7. Eagle Reporter. NWSC to unveil new state-of-the-art offices Eagle Uganda, 1 September 2017, retrieved 25 July 2018^
  8. Javira Ssebwami. NWSC reveals plans to shift head offices PMLDaily.com, 31 March 2018, retrieved 25 July 2018^
  9. Chimp Corps. Rugunda Launches NWSC Ambitious Corporate Plan Chimp Reports Uganda, 21 July 2018, retrieved 25 July 2018^
  10. European Commission. Kampala Water - Lake Victoria Water And Sanitation Sector (WATSAN) European Commission, 25 July 2018, retrieved 25 July 2018^
  11. European Investment Bank. Kampala Water: Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project (Uganda) European Investment Bank, 27 October 2016, retrieved 27 October 2016^
  12. Water Technology. Uganda to Build $306m Water Treatment Plant in Katosi Water-technology.net, 18 April 2011, retrieved 21 July 2015^
  13. EABW Staff. Uganda: Kampala in U.S.$280 Million Revamp for City Water East African Business Week (EABW) via AllAfrica.com, 10 December 2013, retrieved 21 July 2015^
  14. Stephen Otage. NWSC registers heavy profits Daily Monitor, 18 December 2015, retrieved 6 January 2016^
  15. The Ugandan. NWSC Kicks Off Project To Connect Water To 12000 Villages The Ugandan, 21 March 2018, retrieved 25 July 2018^
  16. Jamila Mulindwa. NWSC Expands Katosi Water Network to Connect Millions Across North Kampala Nile Post Uganda, 13 February 2026, retrieved 13 February 2026^
  17. Julius Businge. NWSC eyes own power plant The Independent (Uganda), 10 November 2014, retrieved 21 July 2015^
  18. NWSC. National Water and Sewerage Corporation: Our Structure National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), retrieved 27 October 2016^
  19. National Water and Sewerage Corporation. Board of Directors: National Water and Sewerage Corporation National Water and Sewerage Corporation, 14 July 2022, retrieved 14 July 2022^