The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) hosted a strategic engagement on June 28th, 2024, bringing together key stakeholders including the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, local council, and administrative personnel of the Kampala Central Division. The event aimed to foster collaboration, improve service delivery, and address operational challenges. It also served as a platform for the corporation to build trust, ensure accountability, and tailor services to meet the specific needs of the community.
Organized by the Kampala Water Public Relations Department and the Central Business District Zone, led by Ms. Vivien Newumbe-Manager PR, and Ms. Annet Kukunda-Senior Manager CBD respectively, the engagement commenced with a demonstration of the Kampala Water (KW) Urban Pro-Poor Branch’s latest innovation: a solar-powered pre-paid water meter. According to Ms. Evelyn Mukajusi, the Manager, this new meter is designed to last at least eight years, a significant improvement over the previous model’s eight-month lifespan. The meter, which allows payments via mobile money at a cost of only Ugx25 shillings for a 20-liter jerry can, is expected to significantly benefit residents in Kampala’s urban poor areas (markets and slums).
Ms. Mukajusi also provided an overview of new public sanitation facilities across Kampala, ongoing and completed projects. Whereas, Ms. Pauline, a brilliant KW-Mapkit analyst with the help of maps of the division, and greater kampala metropolitan shared insight into the water networks within the NWSC’s Greater Kampala Metropolitan region. This was followed by a discussion session where stakeholders, led by Mayor Salim Saad Uhuru, complemented, complained, and raised queries.
Whereas Ms. Kukunda addressed these questions and highlighted challenges such as water theft, infrastructure vandalism, and delayed payments, she also sought the leaders’ assistance in tackling these issues.
The General Manager-Kampala Water, Eng. Lutaaya Muhamood, expressed gratitude for the leaders’ attendance and stressed the importance of building strong relationships to enhance service delivery. He highlighted the significant costs associated with providing safe and clean water, urging stakeholders to support the corporation by promptly paying their bills and helping to combat Non-Revenue Water. In response to the underground water query, Eng. Lutaaya clarified that a permit from the Ministry of Water and Environment is required for accessing underground water, but he cautioned that the alternative water source may not always be safe.
Eng Angello Kwitonda, the Manager of Sewerage Services, discussed issues affecting effective sewerage services, including blockages caused by improper toilet use and theft of machine covers. He assured the audience that addressing these problems would ensure smooth service delivery and requested their cooperation.
Resident District Commissioner, Serwadda Geoffrey commended the NWSC for organizing the engagement, which facilitated productive dialogue about community issues. He also praised the corporation as the best government entity in service delivery, and went on to express the leaders’ willingness to collaborate with NWSC to address challenges.
The audience actively participated, expressing appreciation for the information provided and asking questions to better understand the corporation’s operations. In the end, they pledged to collaborate with NWSC to ensure mutual benefits.
The event concluded with expressions of gratitude from various speakers, who applauded the corporation for organizing the engagement. “A great initiative,” they said, that helps ensure that local leaders are well-informed and can effectively communicate with their constituents about NWSC’s operations. To the NWSC, such partnerships are crucial for improving customer response to bills, combating Non-Revenue Water issues, and preventing infrastructure vandalism.
With the successful completion of this event, Kampala Central Division just like Rubaga Division has been checked off the list. Upcoming sessions will be held in Kawempe, Makindye, and Nakawa Divisions as NWSC remains committed to “Water and Excellent Service Delivery for All”.
