NWSC in race to handle water shortages as Greater Kampala continues to expand

What the report says

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) used a stakeholder engagement in Bugolobi on August 14 to outline its progress and the operational pressures it faces as Greater Kampala expands. According to The Observer, the event included a media tour of projects around the capital and a roundtable on how water and sanitation infrastructure affects communities and Uganda’s wider development.

NWSC officials said the utility is under increasing strain from rapid urban growth, with water shortages, limited sewerage coverage, metal theft and disruptions linked to roadworks affecting service delivery. The report said some areas in western Kampala and nearby places such as Nansana, Kawempe, Buloba, Buddo, Matugga and Kakiri are among those experiencing water stress. NWSC’s leadership also noted that sewerage expansion has lagged behind water supply growth, leaving gaps in sanitation services.

The corporation said it is planning for larger demand over the coming years. Managing director Dr Silver Mugisha said NWSC is targeting 1.25 million water connections nationwide by 2030, while also expanding its network and service footprint. The article said the length of main water pipes has grown significantly in recent years, the utility now serves many more towns and people than before, and it aims to serve even more Ugandans within the next five years.

The Observer also reported that NWSC has increasingly relied on in-house expertise for system design, project implementation and digital tools, and that it has changed how it manages risk by creating its own risk management arrangement rather than depending only on conventional insurance.