Kampala, Uganda—Over the past five years, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has bolstered its support for local businesses by awarding contracts worth UGX 188 billion to Ugandan contractors.
This initiative, aligned with the Build Uganda Buy Uganda (BUBU) law, is part of NWSC’s commitment to driving economic growth and local industry development.
By engaging local firms, NWSC has strengthened private sector financing for water and sanitation projects, creating more job opportunities and enhancing the operational capacities of domestic companies.
Investing in local contractors is part of NWSC’s broader strategy to improve water infrastructure and service delivery across Uganda.
Over the same period, NWSC has collaborated with the private sector on 82 public-private partnership (PPP) projects, facilitating knowledge transfer and innovative practices through partnerships with international firms.
These PPP initiatives reflect NWSC’s commitment to sustainable development and its efforts to meet Uganda’s growing water and sanitation demands amid rapid urbanization.
As the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) wraps up the 2021- 2024 corporate agenda, the utility organization is boasting major wins this year.
According to documents seen by this news website, the organization celebrates remarkable achievements in water and sewerage service delivery, infrastructure expansion, and workforce development.
During this period, NWSC exceeded key performance targets, marking a period of substantial progress in Uganda’s water and sanitation sector.
Over the last three years, NWSC has made significant strides in its “Golden Indicators,” surpassing or nearing targets in areas including non-revenue water (NRW) reduction, customer satisfaction, financial growth, and service expansion.
These Golden Indicators represent the metrics NWSC prioritizes to assess the impact of its service delivery on the lives of Ugandans. The corporation’s performance indicators highlight its commitment to service excellence.
Key Quantitative Achievements
Between 2021 and 2024, NWSC achieved an impressive reduction in NRW, achieving 34% against a target of 35%, demonstrating effective measures to curb water losses due to leaks and theft.
The corporation also achieved a customer satisfaction index of 80%, just below the targeted 90%, illustrating a continuous emphasis on improving customer experiences across Uganda.
By close of the year 2024, NWSC’s customer base shall have expanded significantly, reaching 950,000 connections against the target of 992,477, reflecting a 96% achievement.
This growth aligns with NWSC’s efforts to serve the growing urban population. Additionally, NWSC’s asset base grew to UGX 4.5 trillion, up from UGX 3.5 trillion in 2020, contributing to a steady financial performance and enabling critical Water and Sanitation projects across the country.
Infrastructure Development for Industrial Growth
Supporting Uganda’s industrialization vision, NWSC made extensive investments in water and sewerage infrastructure in industrial parks.
By the close of 2024, NWSC will have provided water services to nine industrial parks, sewerage services to one park, and completed 86 kilometers of network expansions within these zones.
These improvements allowed 319 projects and businesses to connect to NWSC’s network, contributing to Uganda’s economic growth by supporting industries with reliable water and sewerage solutions.
Furthermore, the corporation enhanced its coordination with investors through an office at the Uganda Investment Authority’s One Stop Center and integration into the electronic platform, EBIZ.
Expansion of Water and Sewerage Networks
During the period 2021-2024, the corporation focused on expanding water and sewerage networks, completing 2,493 kilometers of water network mains and 86 kilometers of sewer network mains, thus increasing access to clean water and reliable sanitation services. Key completed projects include:
- Katosi Water Treatment Plant: A major project with a 160-million-liter per day capacity and a 9.5-kilometer pipeline.
- Nakivubo Wastewater Treatment Plant: Designed to treat 45 million liters per day, improving wastewater management in Kampala.
- Kinawataka and Nakivubo Sewer Network: A 29-kilometer network extension to boost sanitation services in urban areas.
- Regional Projects: Projects like the Fort Portal Water Production Improvement Project and the Sembabule Water Supply Project, enhance water production in various districts.
These infrastructure expansions reflect NWSC’s commitment to improving water accessibility, ensuring consistent and safe water supply for urban and industrial areas alike.
Investing in Workforce Development
In the period from 2021-2024, the NWSC has made great strides in building a skilled and productive workforce to meet its expanding service area. The corporation reduced the staff-to-connection ratio to five staff members per 1,000 connections, ensuring a high level of service efficiency.
NWSC trained 3,942 employees and developed partnerships with local institutions, such as UBTEB and Makerere College of Education & External Studies, to advance competency-based training.
The corporation also launched an e-learning platform to support continuous learning and an e-health system to manage employee health digitally.
Prominent Awards and Recognitions
NWSC’s exceptional performance and dedication to sustainable service delivery have earned it several prestigious awards, including:
- Excellence in Quality Award by the European Society for Quality Research in 2023.
- Best Digital Communication Campaign by the Public Relations Association of Uganda in 2023.
- Global GIS System Achievement Award in 2021 for pioneering GIS technology in utility management.
NWSC’s achievements reflect its commitment to enhancing service delivery, supporting Uganda’s industrial and economic ambitions, and building a sustainable Water and Sanitation sector.
These achievements position NWSC as a vital force in national development, ready to meet future challenges in the water and sewerage sector as it implements its 2024-2027 Corporate Plan.
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