A project survey mission between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) culminated in the official signature of minutes, sealing a shared commitment to human capacity development and institutional strengthening in Uganda’s water sector.
While missions of this nature often focus on infrastructure or technology transfer, this one stood out for its deliberate shift toward people, training, and systems and how to prepare them to lead meaningful change.
Dr. Rose Kaggwa, NWSC’s Senior Director of Business and Scientific Services, described the mission as both intense and illuminating. Across field visits, meetings, and planning sessions, the teams paused to ask deeper questions about what kind of learning environment NWSC is cultivating and what kind of support its people need to thrive.
“We’ve spent years planning,” Dr. Kaggwa acknowledged. “But now we’re being challenged to act not just for the sake of activity, but with purpose. This mission helped us reframe the way forward.”
She recalled how her team had begun to question the extended planning process, wondering when real action would begin. “They asked how long are we going to keep planning? But planning is critical. Without it, we risk doing the wrong things. The difference now is that we’re aligned, sharpened, and ready.”
From gender mainstreaming and branding to digital transformation and the integration of AI, the mission dug into issues often overlooked in technical exchanges. Yet they are central to sustainability.
“This work isn’t just about fixing pipes,” she said. “It’s about building mindset, systems, and strategies that will last.”
For Eng. Johnson Amayo, NWSC’s Deputy Managing Director for Technical Services, the mission was a reminder of the power of structured planning especially when it leads to bold execution.
“As Africans, we sometimes rush to action,” he said, half-jokingly. “But planning is what makes action work. This mission gave us a framework a mirror to help us see where we stand and where we must go.”
He praised the JICA team for their candor and their ability to identify policy gaps and human resource needs that must be addressed before implementation can truly take root.
“This wasn’t just about ticking boxes,” Eng. Amayo emphasized. “It was about meaningful reflection and the courage to evolve.”
Mr. Masanobu Mayusumi, a seasoned Non Revenue Water expert from JICA, also shared final remarks before the official signing which he conducted on behalf of JICA, alongside Eng. Amayo for NWSC.
Training requires demonstration, and demonstration needs equipment. If you want people to grow, invest in both their knowledge and the platforms they work with.
The signature of minutes may have marked the close of a technical mission, but for both JICA and NWSC, it also signaled the beginning of action, a shared commitment to build resilient teams, adaptable systems, and institutions that learn and lead.
