The National Water and Sewerage Corporation joined hands with the Ministry of Water and Environment and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in a sanitation drive ahead of the upcoming Uganda water and sanitation week scheduled for from 12th to 17th March 2023.
The pre-event exercise saw the cleaning of Kitintale market, as part of the efforts to promote the theme of the week, “Water and Environment for Climate Resilient Socio-Economic Development”.
The Uganda Water and Environment Week (UWEWK) is a weeklong event that is organized annually by the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) through the Water Resources Institute (WRI). Since its inception in 2018, the event seeks to contribute towards the attainment of Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation and achieving Ugandan National Development Plan and vision 2040. It provides an interface between sector actors and other stakeholders for knowledge exchange, dialoguing, learning for improvement of Uganda’s water and environment resources.
Hon. Ronald Balimwezo MP Nakawa East graced the occasion as the chief guest. He emphasized the significance of maintaining clean surroundings, citing that 80% of diseases are caused by water-related issues. He applauded the MWE and NWSC for their unwavering efforts in providing clean water and sanitation services in the region, and lauded NWSC as the best water utility in East Africa.
Hon. Balimwezo further urged the market community to protect their water sources by using them sustainably and taking care of the environment. He highlighted the importance of conserving natural resources as a way of ensuring their availability for future generations.
The Coordinator of Water Resources Institute at the Ministry of Water and Environment, Ms. Gwendolyn Kyoburungi, emphasized the impact of climate change on water resources and the need for collaboration to address the challenges it poses. She announced the upcoming Water and Sanitation Week, a platform for stakeholders to discuss strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on water resources.
The Manager Public Relations-Kampala Water, Ms. Vivien Newumbe, emphasized the role of NWSC in providing clean water and sanitation services to the community. She highlighted the company’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable water management practices and environmental conservation, and encouraged the market community to embrace good hygiene practices and proper waste management, which she noted would contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment.
The Manager Luzira-KW, Ms. Joselyn Kobusingye, conveyed her appreciation to the market community for their support in this initiative. She explained that NWSC is dedicated to giving back to the community through various initiatives, and that cleaning is one way to contribute positively. Ms. Kobusingye also stressed the importance of embracing E-billing as she encouraged customers to take advantage of the technology and make use of the NWSC office in Luzira for any complaints they may have. This is in line with the corporation’s efforts to digitize services and provide more efficient service to their customers.
The market clean-up was a success and a great example of how collaborative efforts can make a difference in promoting sanitation. This initiative is expected to inspire the market community to extend these practices to their homes and other communities, contributing to the bigger picture of creating a cleaner and healthier environment for all.
