Kampala has enough water. Why are taps still dry?

What the report says

The Observer reports that Greater Kampala continues to face dry taps, low water pressure and irregular supply even though the city’s treatment plants produce enough water to meet estimated demand. According to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), the main challenge is distribution: treated water is leaving plants, but ageing pipes, weak transmission lines and damage from road and infrastructure works are preventing it from reliably reaching homes and businesses.

To respond, NWSC has launched a Shs 6 billion project called K-Flows. The initiative, launched on November 5 at the International Resource Centre in Bugolobi, is aimed at Kampala and surrounding areas including Mukono, Entebbe, Wakiso, Matugga, Bombo and parts of Mpigi. Planned works include new pipelines, reservoirs, booster stations and boreholes, with officials saying the upgrades are meant to improve pressure and reduce interruptions in underserved neighbourhoods.

NWSC says the Ggaba treatment complex and the Katosi plant together can produce about 400 million litres a day, while estimated demand is around 330 million litres. However, the utility says it is not using all available capacity from Katosi because the network cannot distribute water efficiently. NWSC officials said more than five million customers across Greater Kampala are affected, and some areas experience rationing for hours at a time.

The utility said some residents may begin seeing improvements by December 2026, while full completion of the works is projected for around mid-2027. The project comes amid rapid urban growth and rising demand for water in the capital region.