KAMPALA– National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) the, company mandated to operate and provide water and sewerage services Uganda has announced a series of celebration events lined up to mark 50 years of its existence.
The celebrations will be held through the entire month of November, culminating in the grand celebration scheduled for 2nd December 2022 at the Kololo Independence Grounds.
The body which now boasts of 900,000 connections serving approximately 18 million people, was established by Decree No. 34 of 1972, to operate and provide water and sewerage services in areas entrusted to it by the Government, on a commercial and financially viable basis.
Flagging off the NWSC celebratory activities, the NWSC Board Chairman Dr. Eng. Prof Badru Kiggundu underscored some of the corporation’s achievements in the last 50 years which include increment in the number of towns served by the corporation from 3 to 263.
He also noted an increase in number of people served with piped water from less than 200,000 to 18 million and the pipe network length from less than 200kms to 22,000kms now.
Eng Kiggundu added that at the grand celebrations, President Museveni will unveil to the public some flagship water infrastructure projects that have been recently completed by NWSC and launch those that are in the pipeline for implementation.
Museveni will also be requested to perform the grand pass-out of NWSC staff that have undergone patriotism, mindset change, pan- Africanism and utility management, which was carried out jointly by NWSC and UPDF personnel.
NWSC Managing Director Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha attributed the corporation’s success to its hardworking staff, customers, support from the Government of Uganda, Ministry of Water and Environment among many others stakeholders.
Eng Mugisha noted that the President will unveil completed projects in Kapeeka, Kapchorwa, Sembabule, Fort Portal, Bushenyi, Lira, Jinja and Katosi Water treatment plant, Bugolobi-Nakivubo Waste Water Treatment Plant among others.
He will also flag off other projects under construction that include; Lyantonde, Kyankwanzi, Kalungu, Mbale, Gulu, Adjumani, Soroti, Mbale, Ibanda, Kasese, Hoima among many others.
The MD highlighted the centrality of hard work to the success and NWSC but decried the problem of people thinking they can be promoted without work.
“There is a problem of young people who have a long history of being babysat and getting things for free. They want to eat without hard work.” he said.
Eng. Mugisha stated that no NWSC staff will be promoted without hard work. “At NWSC, we have to work hard, pay for chemicals, pipes, power, salaries among other production inputs. These cannot be paid without hard work.” He warned.
The events shall be celebrated, in strict observance of COVID19 and Ebola epidemic prevention guidelines.