By Frank Kamuntu | Mr Swift
Uganda has been selected to host the International Water Association (IWA) Water and Development Congress and Exhibition in 2027, positioning the country to attract more than 3,000 international delegates and strengthen its profile as a destination for global conferences and water-sector investment.
The announcement was made in Glasgow, Scotland, during the IWA’s 2026 Annual General Meeting, with the Government of Uganda, through the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), taking the lead in coordinating preparations for the international gathering.
The congress brings together water utility managers, policymakers, researchers, development partners, financiers and technology companies to discuss challenges affecting water supply and sanitation, particularly in developing countries.
Following the announcement, IWA President Professor Hamanth Kasan and Executive Director Professor Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy met a delegation from NWSC led by Board Chairman Professor Engineer Henry Alinaitwe and Managing Director Dr Engineer Silver Mugisha. The delegation also included Senior Director of Business and Scientific Services Dr Rose Kaggwa and Kampala Water General Manager Engineer Mahmood Lutaaya.
Professor Kasan expressed confidence in Uganda’s ability to prepare for the congress, saying the association intended to build on previous editions while expanding participation from African countries. He commended the Ugandan Government for supporting NWSC’s efforts to develop water utilities across the continent and pledged IWA’s support for preparations ahead of the Kampala meeting.
NWSC Managing Director Dr Silver Mugisha assured the IWA leadership that Uganda had the facilities, experience and hospitality needed to deliver a successful event.
“You will get the best Development Congress,” Mugisha told the IWA officials, pointing to the country’s conference facilities and experience in hosting international gatherings.
Professor Alinaitwe also highlighted Uganda’s favourable climate, tourism attractions and conference infrastructure as advantages that would enhance the delegates’ experience.
The 2027 congress is expected to provide significant opportunities for Uganda’s hospitality and tourism sectors, with hotels, restaurants, transport operators, exhibition service providers and other businesses positioned to benefit from the anticipated international attendance.
Beyond conference tourism, the event will offer Ugandan and other African water utilities an opportunity to engage international financiers, researchers and technology companies on projects aimed at improving water supply, sanitation infrastructure and service delivery.
Uganda’s selection builds on its recent experience hosting major water-sector gatherings. In February 2025, Kampala hosted the 22nd African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) International Congress and Exhibition, which attracted more than 2,500 delegates, according to NWSC.
Previous IWA Water and Development Congresses have also drawn substantial international participation. The December 2025 edition in Bangkok, Thailand, attracted approximately 1,700 delegates and 200 exhibitors, while the 2023 congress in Kigali, Rwanda, brought together nearly 2,700 participants from 85 countries.
During the Glasgow discussions, IWA officials proposed greater involvement of African universities, including opportunities for students to present research and interact with professionals in the water sector. The parties also discussed the possibility of establishing an IWA African hub, whose location will be determined through a separate assessment process.