NWSC’S Evelyn Mukajusi joins Continental Expert group on Rural and Peri-Urban Water Supply

During the 95th Strategic and Technological Council (STC) Conference of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA), a new Specialist Group was formally constituted to address one of the continent’s most pressing challenges, drinking water supply in rural and peri-urban areas.

Among those selected for this high-level team is Uganda’s Evelyn Mukajusi, Branch Manager of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation’s (NWSC) Urban Pro-Poor Branch and President of the Young Water Professionals – Uganda Chapter, two roles that position her squarely at the intersection of grassroots service delivery and sector-wide leadership. She now extends this impact as External Relations Coordinator for the newly formed Specialist Group.

The Specialist Group on Drinking Water Supply in Rural and Peri-Urban Areas was established in response to the staggering reality that over 400 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to safe water, many of them living in informal or transitional settlements often excluded from conventional urban supply systems.

In her presentation to the Council, Ms Mukajusi outlined the need to tailor interventions to the distinct dynamics of rural and peri-urban settings, urging the adoption of community-led management models, stronger policy frameworks, and deeper regional cooperation. She also highlighted the role of peer utilities in knowledge transfer and technical exchange.

Ms Mukajusi’s selection to the team depicts her individual leadership and also confirms the NWSC’s position as one of Africa’s leading water and sanitation utilities, committed to staff capacity development, equity, innovation and regional influence, which simply ensures that Uganda remains central in shaping the continent’s water and sanitation priorities.