In a recent appearance on Star TV’s morning show “Banguka Mubyenfuna,” Engineer Mahmood Lutaaya, the General Manager for Kampala Water, detailed significant strides made by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) in improving water supply across the Kampala Metropolitan area. Eng. Lutaaya highlighted the accomplishments since the establishment of the Katosi drinking water plant, which has greatly augmented the water supply from the Ggaba treatment plant to cater to the city and its environs.
Eng. Lutaaya noted that approximately 400 million litres of water are pumped daily between the Katosi and Ggaba plants, addressing the growing demand in Kampala. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged that NWSC has yet to achieve its goal of universal water access in the city due to various challenges. However, he emphasised the corporation’s commitment to overcoming these obstacles and ensuring that every area is adequately served.
One of the innovative projects aimed at achieving this goal is the newly improved token meter system, designed to provide affordable access to water for the urban poor. Eng. Lutaaya explained that this concept was inspired by the widely successful mobile money system, which allows individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds to have a money account via their phone network. Similarly, the new token system enables low-income residents to access clean, safe water at an affordable rate without needing a direct NWSC account.
Each tap in the token system can supply enough water for up to five households, with the installation costs fully covered by NWSC and the government of Uganda. Although the tap system itself is not new, NWSC has introduced several enhancements to improve its functionality and user experience. For instance, the dispensing method has been modernized to a swiping system, capping the water dispensed at twenty litres per token, which significantly reduces wastage compared to the older system. Additionally, the durability of the materials has been enhanced, shifting from dry cells that lasted 4-6 months to solar-powered units with a lifespan of 6-8 years. Another significant improvement is the elimination of third-party vendors, allowing customers to operate the system directly.
Eng. Lutaaya also mentioned ongoing efforts, in collaboration with local council officials, to educate the public on accessing water through this upgraded token system. The outdated machines will be replaced, and new locations for the taps will be identified, with plans to install around 1,500 taps throughout the Kampala metropolitan area as part of the rollout currently in progress.
NWSC’s innovative measures and relentless commitment signal a promising future for clean safe water accessibility. With each improvement, the corporation moves closer to its goal of ensuring every Ugandan has access to clean, safe water.
