In a water constrained environment, Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Management often offers superior cost-effectiveness and with that, the need to manage NRW better and protect precious water resources continues to be increasingly important which is why Kampala Water management is undertaking various measures to address the NRW challenges affiliated to Fire Hydrants all over the greater Kampala Metropolitan, starting with a joint task force with Uganda Police’s Fire Prevention and Rescue Services to curb water theft via fire hydrant vandalism let alone mismanagement.
A team from the Kampala Water Asset Management Department, led by Senior Manager Dr. Frank Kizito and consisting of Principal Engineer Peter Oburu and Senior Surveyor Bernard Mwaka, paid a working visit to the Directorate of Fire Prevention and Rescue Services (FP&RS) Headquarters at Clock Tower. During the visit, the team held a hands-on planning session with Fire Prevention Officer ASP Dramani Christopher and the OC Station, Afande Karuhanga. The purpose of the meeting was to come up with a work plan for a joint fire hydrant inspection exercise, and to kick-start activities in this regard. During the meeting at the FP&RS Headquarters, the team reviewed the location and status of fire hydrants in the city as captured in Mapkit based on earlier inspections carried out by KW. This information was checked and corroborated against the field findings of a similar inspection conducted by the FP&RS hydrant inspection team.
From the discussions, it was agreed that the KW Team prepare a large-format printed map for the FP&RS Control Room, indicating the locations and current status of FHs in the Kampala Metropolitan Area. Furthermore, it was agreed that a Mapkit user profile be set up to enable the FP&RS team access the dynamic hydrant information contained in Mapkit, via a web platform.
Thereafter, the joint team from Kampala Water and the FP&RS Directorate headed to the Central Business District to kick start the joint inspection exercise. Several fire hydrant locations along Nakivubo Road, Namirembe Road, Luwum Street and Ben Kiwanuka Street were visited, and the condition of the hydrants was ascertained and necessary improvements identified. The team agreed to continue with joint inspections twice a week (on Tuesdays and Thursdays), starting with Kampala Central Division and eventually covering the entire Kampala Metropolitan Area. It was also agreed to co-opt and include the participation of a team from Kampala Capital City Authority in this joint inspection exercise.
Notably, preparations are in high gear for a friendly soccer match between a select team from Kampala Water and a team from the FP&RS Directorate. The much anticipated match is scheduled to take place on Saturday 28th May 2022 at the Police Grounds in Kibuli, and is aimed at further cementing the partnership and cordial relationship between the two parties. Training for the long-awaited soccer match is already ongoing on both sides.
