National water seeks sh20b for infrastructure fund

By Agnes Nantambi 

National water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is seeking for sh20b for its infrastructure fund to increase on its scope of service delivery.

The infrastructure fund is aimed at accelerating service delivery in the most vulnerable areas like Karamoja region which has low network coverage.

According NWSC Executive Director, Silver Mugisha, the fund will primarily benefit the first six pilot towns of Adjumani, Moroto, Paidha, Matanya, Kangole and Kakiri to enhance distribution, water works extension, pipeline laying to increase supply.

Mugisha said that the fund is part of the five-year strategic plan whose major emphasis is focusing on extensive geographical expansion.

     Silver Mugisha, ED NW&SC (centre) with Prof Waswa Balunywa and Prof Mulungi showing their gifts during the 6th leadership conference. PHOTO/Agnes Nantambi                       

"We were expecting to reach about 80 towns by 2018 from 23 but now we have already reached 110 towns meaning already that target has been achieved, "he said.

He explained that the second target of the strategic plan is massive expansion of service delivery emphasizing that they are hoping to cover 1400km on top of water quality improvement.

"You cannot deliver a product whose quality you are not monitoring so we have strengthened our quality monitoring systems so that the product we are delivering to people is well looked after, "he said.

The other area, he said, is strengthening staff welfare so that the staff are motivated to make them more productive and ensure that they have the right resources to deliver the services in addition to development of an independent software department to boost IT services.

He reveaved that the computerised billing system has saved the corporation about sh1.2b per annum, money that can be diverted towards other concerns.

Prof Mondo Kagonyera, Chancellor Makerere University, commended the good work done by the corporation and called for integration of the provision of water for production into the National water and sewerage systems. 

"They have demonstrated efficiency in providing water for human consumption, since they have got that expertise of providing water to human consumption, why can't we give them the responsibility of providing water for animal to drink and water to irrigate our crops, "he emphasized.

This he said will help to stop depending on praying to God for rain to fall when most of the time the prayers don't achieve, meaning some time prayers are made but the rain will not come and crops fail a translating into starvation of people.