The NWSC Board of Directors under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Eng. Badru Kiggundu set out on a week-long excursion to review projects performance in the areas of Kyenjojo, Fort Portal, Ntoroko, Bunyangabu, Kasese and Rubirizi; and was received by Ms. Judith Abonyo Sokoto, the Area manager. She expressed gratitude to the board and management for visiting the area and for entrusting her with the responsibility of managing Kyenjojo area.
An overview of the operations in Kyenjojo was shared as stipulated below;
Kyenjojo took over the water system from Town Council in 2017, with a population demand of 400, and was served by 4 Boreholes, Katoosa, Kamagadi, Nyatungo and Tobacco borehole.
There were 190 accounts during takeover, and they have grown to 1,293 currently.
Kyenjojo Area has a main pipe network coverage of up 95 km in lengths with varying pipe sizes.
Major water sources are 2 boreholes of Kyanati 20m3/hr and Kyarutarah 12m3/hr with a production of 384m3 per day, which is pumped to Nyakabara Reservior (200M3) to the distribution lines with a current demand of 15,000;
Katooke Town council is located approximately 262 Kms by road from Kampala city in the western of Uganda with an estimated population of 19,600.
The water source for Katooke is predominately supplied by surface water from River Aswa with a depth of 4.2m and at a rate of 3,200m2/day from Kagoora source.
Water from clear water is high lifted by a single pump with a rating of 128m3/hr to Kagoora Master Balancing Reservoir & from the MBR, water flows by gravity to Katooke booster station sump with a capacity of 128m3 and lifted by a booster pump to Katooke hill steel platted MBR 200m3 through a steel DN 250 Transmission line.
From Katooke MBR, water flows by gravity to the 2 secondary distribution reservoirs in Kyenjojo 300m3 and Katooke 200m3. The production capacity of the treatment plant is 2,500m3 /day with a potential water supply of 1,875m3.
Speeches and reactions from the district leadership, the board and management of NWSC follwed. First to take center stage was the Kyenjojo district chairperson, Mr. Rubaihayo Gilbert who welcomed the board and management of NWSC to Kyenjojo district and reminded those present that National Water is privileged to serve Kyenjojo town and is in the process of being made a Municipality hence business growth for the corporation since it will be providing the service of clean and safe water to about 70% of the district.
Mr. Rubaikayo also emphasized that Kyenjojo Area has the capacity to increase its billing to over 500 million because its population is need of the service and can afford it because it is relatively cheaper than the other alternative sources of water in the district hence encouraging the area manager and her staff to reach out to the people and have them connected to the service in the shortest time possible. Mr. Rubaikayo also stressed that the area was faced with the challenge of delayed new connections and requested the board to assist management to ensure that customers are connected on time to avoid the issue of backlog as he concluded his remarks.
Hon. Donald Katalihwa Byabazaire, representing the constituency of Mwenge in his remarks stated that he was honored and privileged to host the board in his constituency. Hon. Byabazaire shared with the board that he has the corporation’s best interests at heart and as a member of the natural resources and budget committees, he endeavors that NWSC is supported in its operations in its quest to improve on the livelihood of Ugandans especially those in his constituency. Hon. Byabazire also reiterated that Kyenjojo has the potential to be one of the biggest operational areas in the region because of the availability of the need for the service. He pledged to work closely with the board and management to ensure the Katooke project is fully utilized through increasing the number of connections within the area.
DMD Board Affairs and Management Services, Ms. Edith Kateete in her remarks thanked the board for travelling from Kampala to Kyenjojo to meet and interact with their staff. She also congratulated the staff of Kyenjojo upon acquiring area status and emphasized that with this elevation, a lot will be expected from the area. She also congratulated Ms. Judith Abonyo Sokoto upon her promotion from being a Branch Manager in Dokolo to being an Area Manager of Kyenjojo Area. She went on to remind those present that the customer is the reason for the corporation’s existence and without them the corporation would lack relevance.
Ms. Kateete went on to emphasize the issue of staff appraisals where each individual will be appraised against his or her targets on a quarterly basis and urged the area staff to take the performance appraisals very seriously. “This new objective appraisal system is not here to witch-hunt anyone but to make all of us better performers. The corporation has targets to achieve and if the staff are not performing, the corporation cannot achieve its targets.” stated Ms. Kateete as she concluded her remarks.
Prof. Dr. Eng. Badru Kiggundu, while addressing the staff also reiterated on the issue of staff appraisals stating that based on the structural analysis that had taken place over a couple of months, the board noticed that there was an overflow of about 1000 employees and that there was some redundancy in the system hence tasking management to come up with an objective performance appraisal system. Dr. Kiggundu therefore urged the area staff to utilize their time appropriately in order to better themselves. “God is the most provider of a very special variable that is time, which everyone enjoys and how we use it entirely depends on us.” Stated Dr. Kiggundu.
He went on to encouraged the staff to go out and look for customers and ensure that their needs are satisfied in the shortest possible time as this will be the best way in which the area will grow its business and utilize the new acquired installations. He concluded his remarks by congratulating the staff for attaining Area status.
