The Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Dr Silver Mugisha, has restated the utility’s resolve to widen access to clean and safe water nationwide, while tackling persistent issues around pricing, regulation and infrastructure expansion.
Appearing on NBS Television’s Spotlight Uganda on Monday, a programme themed “Access to Clean and Safe Water,” Dr Mugisha said NWSC operates within a tightly regulated framework set by government to ensure accountability and efficiency.
He explained that the Corporation is supervised by the Ministry responsible for Water and Environment and runs under a performance contract that spells out specific targets and Key Performance Indicators, which are regularly reviewed.
“Our operations are not independent of government oversight. We work under a performance contract, and our KPIs are continuously assessed to guarantee value for money and quality service delivery,” Mugisha said.
On the cost of water, he clarified that NWSC supplies water at a heavily subsidised rate, with a jerrican sold at Shs25 at official outlets. However, he expressed concern over individuals who exploit the system by purchasing water at the subsidised price and reselling it to the public at exorbitant rates.
“It is unfair when someone buys water from NWSC at Shs25 and later sells it at Shs500. That undermines our efforts to make water affordable,” he said, urging stronger collaboration with local authorities to clamp down on the practice.
Dr Mugisha also highlighted recent gains in infrastructure development, announcing the completion of the Kiruddu Water Treatment Plant. He described the facility as a major boost to water quality and sanitation, noting that it now supplies water that meets drinking standards while significantly easing pressure on the Kiruddu sewerage network.
“The Kiruddu project has addressed long-standing sanitation challenges in the area and improved the overall reliability of the system,” he noted.
Looking to the future, the NWSC boss revealed that plans are underway to draw water directly from Lake Victoria to enhance supply to Masaka City. He said the initiative will help meet rising demand and ensure a more dependable water supply for the growing urban population.
Dr Mugisha concluded by reaffirming NWSC’s role in supporting Uganda’s socio-economic transformation through improved water and sanitation services, and called for joint efforts among stakeholders to guarantee fair and universal access to clean and safe water.
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