We’re Not Settling For Less: NWSC Unveils Major Water Expansion Plan, Promises Reliable Supply Across Uganda

By Swift Reporter

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has unveiled an ambitious expansion programme aimed at ending intermittent water supply in Kampala and other rapidly growing urban centres, with officials assuring the public that several major projects are already underway.

During a media engagement held on Friday, August 14, 2026 at NWSC International Resource Center Bugolobi, NWSC officials said the corporation is responding to rapid population growth, urbanisation and rising demand by expanding water production, transmission networks and storage facilities while upgrading ageing infrastructure.

Engineer Mahmood Lutaaya, the General Manager Kampala Water, said Kampala’s water service area now serves an estimated five million people, covering Kampala and parts of Wakiso and Mukono, with demand continuing to rise as the metropolitan area expands.

According to Lutaaya, Kampala currently has a combined production capacity of about 390 million litres of water per day, against an estimated demand of about 300 million litres per day.

However, he explained that having sufficient production capacity does not automatically mean every part of the city receives reliable water, citing the extensive distribution network, elevation differences, power interruptions, ageing infrastructure and rapid urban development as some of the factors affecting supply.

One of the major interventions highlighted during the engagement was Package 2B, an ongoing project involving the laying of nearly 70 kilometres of water transmission and distribution pipelines, alongside the construction of major reservoirs and booster stations.

The project is specifically targeting areas that continue to experience intermittent water supply, particularly parts of western Kampala and surrounding areas.

Lutaaya said the project, which started in 2025, is expected to be completed in August 2027, although some sections are expected to be commissioned earlier.

He said the first phase is expected to begin delivering benefits before the overall project is completed, with sectional commissioning planned as construction progresses.

“The project is on track to completion in line with what was planned,” Lutaaya told the media.

He said the corporation is confident that completion of the project will significantly transform water reliability in currently water-stressed parts of Kampala.

The corporation has also introduced short-term interventions, including boreholes and mini-water systems, to support areas experiencing intermittent supply while larger infrastructure projects are completed.

Kampala’s Water Network Expands As City Grows

Lutaaya said Kampala’s transformation over the past two decades has placed enormous pressure on water infrastructure.

He noted that the corporation’s production capacity in Kampala has grown from about 117 million cubic metres in 2005 to approximately 390,000 cubic metres per day, while customer connections have increased from about 75,000 to nearly 500,000.

The pipe network has also expanded substantially, while NWSC’s business in Kampala has grown from about Shs3.8 billion to approximately Shs34 billion.

He said the corporation has reorganised Kampala Water into four operational zones, supported by about 31 branches and 216 territories, in an effort to bring services closer to customers and improve response to complaints.

Gaba & Katosi Capacity To Be Expanded

NWSC officials also revealed plans to further increase water production capacity.

The corporation plans to add another 80 million litres per day to the Katosi system, while additional projects are being developed to increase supply to rapidly growing areas of Wakiso and Kampala.

Engineer Johnson Amayo, NWSC Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services, said the corporation is also developing the Wakiso West project, which is expected to significantly improve supply along the Kampala-Wakiso corridor.

The corporation is simultaneously pursuing a 30-million-litre-per-day project as an immediate intervention while the larger Wakiso West project is developed.

The media engagement also provided an overview of projects being implemented across the country.

Amayo said NWSC has expanded its geographical footprint to 293 towns, up from only three towns in its earlier years, while its current customer satisfaction index stands at 82 percent.

Among the projects highlighted were water supply interventions in Masaka, Mbale, Mbarara, Gulu, Adjumani, Ibanda, Hima, Fort Portal, Arua, Soroti, Jinja and other urban centres.

The corporation has completed projects that draw water from the River Nile to serve Adjumani and Gulu, while the Southwestern Cluster project has expanded water production and distribution in the Greater Mbarara area.

In Masaka, NWSC is developing additional capacity at Bukakata, expected to add about 14 million litres per day to existing production.

Officials also highlighted planned and ongoing projects for Hima, Fort Portal, Lira, Arua, Luzira and several other towns.

The corporation said some projects are being financed externally with government support, while others are being implemented using NWSC’s internally generated resources and market financing.

NWSC Touts Internal Efficiency & Cost-cutting

NWSC Executive Director Dr.Eng. Engineer Silver Mugisha used the engagement to explain how the corporation has attempted to contain costs while expanding its infrastructure.

He said the corporation’s connections have grown from about 300,000 a decade ago to 1.06 million, with a target of reaching 1.25 million connections by 2030.

The length of its main pipeline network has also increased from approximately 6,000 kilometres to 25,000 kilometres, with a target of 30,000 kilometres in the next five years.

Mugisha said NWSC’s assets under management have grown from about Shs580 billion to approximately Shs5 trillion, while the corporation now serves about 22 million Ugandans, up from 4.5 million a decade ago.

Mugisha attributed part of the growth to the use of force-account contracting, in-house engineering and information technology capacity, digitalisation, internal audits, performance-based management and continuous staff development.

He said NWSC has increasingly designed and implemented systems internally rather than relying heavily on external consultants.

ED Defends NWSC Against Corruption Allegations

Mugisha also addressed concerns that have previously circulated on social media regarding the corporation’s procurement, prepaid meters, cyber security, insurance and employment practices.

On the prepaid meter controversy, he said the matter had been investigated and that deductions were made from the supplier after technical and performance audits identified potential losses.

He also addressed the corporation’s 2023 cyberattack, saying NWSC was able to restore critical systems quickly because many of its digital platforms had been developed internally.

On insurance, Mugisha said NWSC had shifted from conventional risk transfer to risk retention by establishing a risk management fund, arguing that the move had saved the corporation almost Shs10 billion over five years.

He said the corporation remains open to scrutiny, noting that the Auditor General has commenced a value-for-money audit of NWSC projects to assess their economy, efficiency and effectiveness.

According to Mugisha, the audit should provide an additional layer of assurance to the public regarding how the corporation’s projects are being implemented.

Water Supply, Sanitation Remain Key Priorities

Beyond water production, NWSC officials said sanitation is increasingly becoming a major focus as urban populations grow.

The corporation currently operates several wastewater treatment facilities in Kampala and has invested in sludge management, sewer extensions and wastewater treatment.

At one of its facilities, officials said about 80 percent of the electricity used at the plant is generated from waste, demonstrating efforts to turn wastewater into a resource rather than treating it purely as waste.

NWSC officials said future investments will focus on improving reliability, efficiency and resilience against climate change while expanding sanitation coverage and using technology to create a more intelligent water utility.

The corporation also identified vandalism, illegal connections, meter theft, power interruptions, road construction and poorly coordinated urban development as some of the challenges affecting service delivery.