After nearly three years of back-and-forth negotiations, the long-awaited transfer of the to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is finally underway. The decision comes after estate developers agreed to relinquish the distribution infrastructure, including the pipe network and customer connections, to NWSC, bringing an end to years of stalled talks and paving the way for improved service delivery to the estate’s approximately 600 households.
At a meeting convened at the Kampala Water headquarters on Jinja Road to iron out the transition details, both sides agreed that only the pipe system and customer accounts would be handed over. The meters currently in use remain the property of the estate residents. However, should NWSC choose not to adopt these meters, the estate management will reclaim them.
Mr. Samuel Wabasa, Director-Canaan Sites, emphasised the need for a structured transition, proposing that residents must clear all outstanding water bills, preferably to a zero balance but capped at no more than UGX 5,000, before the system is officially handed over. A 30-day grace period was proposed, after which disconnections would be enforced for non-compliance. Once this window closes, the estate will formally transfer operations to NWSC.
Meanwhile, NWSC’s Senior Manager Central Zone, Mr Otto Pacific, called for a clear and resident-friendly roadmap. He requested a system map, a detailed account of all arrears, and a plan that avoids unnecessary disruptions to water supply. He also sought clarification on the fate of existing meters, to which the Canaan sites team responded that they are open to their removal in of NWSC-standard equipment, aligning with NWSC’s operational protocols.
To ensure a smooth handover, Mr. Otto proposed a joint sensitisation campaign to guide residents through the transition and ease any confusion over the new management.
Representing the residents, Mr. Muwanguzi, Resident and Coordinator-Canaan sites, was candid about the urgency: “We need the water as soon as yesterday. Whatever bureaucracy you need to handle, please do it quickly. People are ready. Just make the connections.”
That urgency was met with cautious optimism from the General Manager of Kampala Water, who recalled the initial engagement with Canaan sites three years ago. “We were ready then, but we hit a few snags,” he said. “Today, I’m pleased that we’re back at the table. We are ready and willing to serve.”
However, he stressed that NWSC must first conduct a comprehensive assessment of the infrastructure before taking over, citing the need to understand the system’s integrity, storage capacity, and network reliability.
“There are risks involved. We must know what we’re inheriting,” he said, also hinting at the need to sensitise residents about billing expectations under NWSC management, which may differ significantly from what they’ve been used to.
He laid out several action points: bills must be cleared to zero balance; NWSC will begin its assessment immediately; and the transition must be documented in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that guarantees NWSC access to resident premises for trenching and pipe installation.
As part of the agreed roadmap, a two-day joint verification exercise will be carried out to establish outstanding balances. Where there is disagreement, the team will work with residents to reach fair resolutions, allowing a set grace period for payments before connecting to NWSC’s supply.
Both parties agreed to finalise and sign the MOU by Wednesday, May 28th, 2025, and then have NWSC’s technical team complete its infrastructure assessment by Friday, May 30th, 2025, followed by a sensitivity meeting on Sunday, June 1st, 2025. Account registration is expected to begin in the first week of June.
While the current arrangement excludes the estate’s two boreholes and storage tanks, which Canaan sites initially offered to sell to NWSC for nearly UGX 2 billion, the new deal prioritises immediate connectivity over asset acquisition and focuses on service delivery.
As the NWSC technical teams prepare to roll out their plans, residents can finally look forward to joining the NWSC grid, a move that promises greater reliability, efficiency, and transparency, according to Eng. Lutaaya.
