NWSC Turns 50 Years, commits to water for all and excellent customer service

KAMPALA, UGANDA: Uganda’s largest urban water authority – National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has unveiled a series of celebration events lined up to mark 50 years of its existence.

The celebrations of this Golden Jubilee will be held through the entire month of November, culminating in the grand celebration scheduled for 2nd December 2022 at the Kololo Independence Grounds with H.E The President as the chief guest.

The body which now boasts of 900,000 connections serving approximately 18 million people, was established by Decree No. 34 of 1972, to operate and provide water and sewerage services in areas entrusted to it by the Government, on a commercial and financially viable basis.

While launching the celebratory activities, the NWSC Board Chairman Dr Eng. Prof Badru hinted at some of the corporation’s achievements in the last 50 years which include an increment in the number of towns served by the corporation from 3 to 263.

Eng Kiggundu also noted that in the 50 years, there has been an increase in the number of people served with piped water from less than 200,000 to 18 million and the pipe network length from less than 200kms to 22,000kms

According to him, NWSC has been able to achieve the above milestones through a series of internal reforms, focusing on the areas of infrastructure rehabilitation and development, information technology, performance management and operating systems, staff capacity building and training, legislative adjustments, key stakeholder collaborations, among others.

Eng Kiggundu added that at the grand celebrations, President Museveni will unveil to the public some flagship water infrastructure projects that have been recently completed by NWSC and launch those that are in the pipeline for implementation.

Museveni will also be requested to perform the grand pass-out of NWSC staff that have undergone patriotism, mindset change, pan- Africanism and utility management, which was carried out jointly by NWSC and UPDF personnel.

NWSC Managing Director Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha attributed the corporation’s success to its hardworking staff, customers, support from the Government of Uganda, Ministry of Water and Environment among many others stakeholders.

Eng Mugisha shared that the President will unveil completed projects in Kapeeka, Kapchorwa, Sembabule, Fort Portal, Bushenyi, Lira, Jinja and Katosi Water treatment plant, Bugolobi-Nakivubo Waste Water Treatment Plant among others.

He will also flag off other projects under construction. These include; Lyantonde, Kyankwanzi, Kalungu, Mbale, Gulu, Adjumani, Soroti, Mbale, Ibanda, Kasese, Hoima among many others.

The MD highlighted the centrality of hard work to the success and NWSC, but however, decried the problem of people thinking they can be promoted without work.

“There is a problem of young people who have a long history of being babysat and getting things for free. They want to eat without hard work.” he said

Eng Mugisha stated that no NWSC staff will be promoted without hard work.
“At NWSC, we have to work hard, pay for chemicals, pipes, power, salaries among other production inputs. These cannot be paid without hardwork.” he warned

The events shall be celebrated, in strict observance of COVID-19 and Ebola epidemic prevention guidelines.

National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is Uganda’s largest urban water authority providing potable water and sewerage services in 262 towns, with a customer base of 900,000 connections serving approximately 18 million people.