NWSC’s Dr. Rose Kaggwa Pushes for Inclusive Water Sector Reform in Africa

LILONGWE: On the sidelines of the 95th Sectoral Technical Committee (STC) meetings in Lilongwe, Dr Rose Christine Kaggwa, Senior Vice President of the International Water Association (IWA), Senior Director Business and Scientific Directorate (SD-BSS) of the National Water & Sewerage Corporation (NWSC-Uganda), and one of Africa’s foremost voices in inclusive water and sanitation governance, held a high-level discussion with Hon. Abida Sidik Mia, Malawi’s Minister of Water and Sanitation. A “Women at the Helm” type of meeting, so to speak.

The meeting, brief but very insightful, centred on strengthening women’s leadership in the water sector, regional collaboration, and advancing shared priorities under global frameworks.

Speaking as a professional trailblazer, Dr Kaggwa reflected on the strides women have made in reshaping technical sectors long closed off to them and the responsibility that comes with occupying such space.

“As women in water, we are not here by accident. We are here because we have earned it. We are also here because others must follow,” Dr Kaggwa said, hinting at the necessity of mentoring, visibility, and institutional support for women rising in the ranks of the water sector.

The discussion moved beyond gender inclusiveness into strategies for strengthening utility performance and sector resilience across the continent. As Chairperson of the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) Assembly under UN-Habitat, Dr Kaggwa updated Hon. Mia on the growing impact of Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs) in boosting operational performance across utilities in Africa and beyond. Hon. Mia welcomed the news that Malawi’s own utilities are already part of this network, which in a way confirmed the value of these peer-support mechanisms in strengthening institutions without reinventing the wheel.

Dr Kaggwa also brought up the Global Sanitation Graduate School (GSGS), an IHE Delft-led initiative that is using regional hubs to bridge academic theory and practical sanitation solutions. She proudly pointed to NWSC’s hosting of the East and Southern Africa GSGS Hub, calling it a clear sign that Uganda is not only a beneficiary of global cooperation but also a strategic driver of it.

As their conversation deepened, Dr Kaggwa formally invited Hon. Mia to the upcoming World Water Development Congress, scheduled for December in Bangkok. The gesture was a deliberate effort to fold more African voices into the global conversation, where decisions are made, alliances are shaped, and ideas become infrastructure. With a nod of agreement, Hon. Mia welcomed the invitation, acknowledging the importance of Africa’s presence and perspective in shaping the future of water and sanitation globally.