Inside Uganda’s Bid to Build a Local Water Pump Industry

What the report says

Uganda’s National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has proposed a partnership with Denmark’s Grundfos and the National Enterprise Corporation to manufacture and assemble water pump components locally. According to Nile Post, the idea was presented by NWSC Managing Director Dr Silver Mugisha during meetings on the sidelines of the International Water Association World Water Congress and Exhibition in Glasgow, Scotland. The aim is to cut reliance on imported spare parts, reduce repair delays and improve the utility’s operations.

NWSC said the current dependence on overseas suppliers leaves it exposed to long waits for critical components. Under the proposal, NEC would help produce spares in Uganda, with the longer-term goal of serving water utilities beyond the country and building a regional supply network. The discussions also included energy-efficient pumps, prepaid water meters, smart pumping systems and training for Ugandan engineers. Grundfos said it would review the proposals and discussed a financing approach in which savings from lower energy use could help recover investment costs.

The article says the partnership is still only a proposal, with no confirmed investment or production timeline. It adds that the plan could support industrial development, technical skills and jobs if it advances. In separate meetings, NWSC also sought World Bank support for water and sanitation financing and asked the Gates Foundation to back research, sanitation work and preparations for Uganda to host the IWA Water and Development Congress and Exhibition in November 2027. More broadly, the push reflects NWSC’s effort to strengthen local capacity and make water services more efficient as demand grows.