National Water and Sewerage Corporation has expanded its customer base nearly fivefold over the past decade, with its water network growing from about 6,000 kilometres to 25,000 kilometres.
The expansion has seen the number of NWSC customer connections rise from approximately 300,000 to 1.46 million, while the number of Ugandans served has increased from about 4.5 million to 22 million.
NWSC Managing Director Eng. Silver Mugisha attributed the growth to increased investment in infrastructure, digital transformation, improved operational efficiency and the strengthening of the Corporation’s internal technical capacity.
Over the same period, NWSC’s operational footprint has expanded from 23 towns to approximately 290 towns, while its asset base has grown from about Shs580 billion to nearly Shs5 trillion.
Mugisha said the Corporation is now targeting 30,000 kilometres of water network and 25 million people served within the next five years as it seeks to extend reliable and sustainable water services to more Ugandans.
He said one of the approaches that has contributed to NWSC’s growth is the adoption of force-account construction, under which the Corporation increasingly relies on its own technical teams to design and implement infrastructure projects.
The approach has reduced dependence on external consultants and contractors while helping NWSC retain technical knowledge, strengthen project supervision and improve value for money.
Mugisha said the Corporation has also invested in digitalisation and engineering capacity, including developing some of its systems internally and undertaking project designs using its own technical teams.
A locally developed financial management system is currently being tested as part of efforts to modernise operations and improve institutional efficiency.
NWSC has also strengthened performance-based management, internal audits and oversight of contractors and consultants to improve accountability and minimise inefficiencies.
Mugisha urged journalists and members of the public to continue scrutinising the Corporation’s operations, saying constructive oversight is important in ensuring public institutions remain accountable.
He, however, encouraged stakeholders to raise concerns in good faith and seek clarification on issues where necessary.
Mugisha also spoke about the cyberattack that affected NWSC systems in 2023, saying the Corporation’s internal technical capacity helped it restore the affected systems relatively quickly.
He said the incident also prompted NWSC to strengthen its cybersecurity systems and improve its resilience against future digital threats.
The Corporation has also adopted a strategy of retaining and managing certain risks internally. According to Mugisha, the approach has generated savings of nearly Shs10 billion over the past five years while strengthening institutional control over critical operations.
On human capital, Mugisha defended the retention of some specialised professionals beyond the statutory retirement age of 60, saying their expertise remains important in handling complex technical assignments.
He said retaining experienced staff also allows NWSC to facilitate knowledge transfer and mentorship, enabling younger professionals to acquire specialised skills needed to sustain the Corporation’s operations.
Mugisha said NWSC will continue investing in infrastructure, human capital, digitalisation and operational efficiency as it seeks to expand services while maintaining financial discipline and value for money.
The planned expansion to 30,000 kilometres of network and 25 million people served within five years would further increase NWSC’s role in providing water services to households, businesses and institutions across Uganda.
