NWSC counts sh300m in losses from water theft in Masaka

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The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) says it registered losses amounting to sh300 million in 2025 due to illegal water tapping in the Masaka region.

Nyendo suburb in Masaka city has been cited as the most notorious area contributing to the losses, according to the NWSC regional general manager, Eng. Emmanuel Mujuni.

"We suffered a loss of sh300 million last year due to clients who steal water through illegal tapings, especially in the Nyendo suburb in Masaka city. We need collective efforts to fight the vice," he said.

Masaka city last year operationalised a city court to prosecute culprits involved in water theft and vandalism of NWSC pipes, according to the city council enforcement officer, John Muwanguzi.

The concern was raised during a stakeholders’ meeting held on January 12, 2026, at the NWSC regional offices in Masaka city, where officials also discussed the ongoing establishment of a modern water treatment and supply plant at Kaziru landing site in Bukakata subcounty, Masaka district.

Once completed, the upgraded plant will extend the water supply from Masaka city to neighbouring districts, including Kalungu, Lwengo, Kyotera, Ssembabule and Bukomansimbi.

Eng. Mujuni said the facility will extract at least 28 million litres of water from Lake Victoria, which will be treated and supplied to more than 500,000 households across the region.

NWSC decided to establish a second water treatment and supply plant at Bukakata after the old facility at Nabajuzi in Masaka city, constructed in 1956, became outdated and insufficient in both quality and capacity.

"The cost of treating water from Nabujuzi swamp is costly, the water is highly contaminated by human activities in the city, besides, the facility is old and outdated," Eng. Mujuzi said.

Stakeholders at the meeting included Masaka city authorities led by city mayor Florence Namayanja, members of the City Development Forum, and contractors. 

Mayor Namayanja said demand for NWSC services has continued to rise following the annexation of new parishes and population growth within Masaka city.

Local leaders, led by City Development Forum representative Vincent Kasumba, called for affordable water access rates to ensure communities fully benefit from the expanded water supply.