NWSC Partners With Luweero Industries to Enhance Water Supply Efficiency

Luweero Industries General Manager Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeeyi reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting NWSC's efforts to enhance water and sanitation services.

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has partnered with Luweero Industries Limited to strengthen engineering capabilities and improve water supply efficiency across Uganda.

The collaboration, formalised in Kampala, is designed to reduce operational costs, promote self-reliance, and foster technical innovation.

NWSC Managing Director Eng Dr Silver Mugisha highlighted the strategic importance of optimizing government-funded equipment to improve service delivery.

"This collaboration is critical for us. We are currently in the process of replacing pumps to increase capacity at Ggaba and other installations, but importing a new pump takes up to six months," Dr. Mugisha said.

"By working with Luwero Industries, we can recondition, recalibrate, and extend the lifespan of our existing equipment, ensuring that standby pumps are always available in case of breakdowns."

Dr. Mugisha attributed the current water supply challenges in Kampala to extreme weather conditions that have heightened demand while also drying up water sources.

As a short-term measure, NWSC is installing higher-capacity pumps and implementing bulk rationing to stabilize supply in water-stressed areas.

In the long run, he said, the Kampala Water Supply Network rationalization and expansion project will improve distribution.

He explained that the partnership will build in-house troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance capacity, reducing reliance on foreign spare parts and avoiding long procurement delays.

"We have previously been forced to buy and replace equipment frequently, but now, with Luweero's support, we will focus on maintenance, rehabilitation, and reuse," Dr. Mugisha said.

"The collaboration will not only reduce redundancy and lower costs but also promote research and development, allowing Uganda to manufacture and develop its own engineering solutions."

He noted that Luweero Industries' specialised workshop machinery and precision equipment would play a key role in enhancing efficiency.

"We have over 1,000 pumps across our network, and by building capacity to locally produce some of the spare parts, we will be able to improve our water production schedules and reduce the time it takes to restore broken-down equipment," Dr. Mugisha said.

The partnership will also support the recently launched Kampala Network Rationalisation and Expansion Project (Package 2B), which aims to expand the city's water supply infrastructure.

Signed in January 2025, the project covers 72 kilometres of pipeline installations, as well as the construction of reservoirs and booster pumping stations.

Luweero Industries General Manager Maj. Gen. Sabiiti Muzeeyi reaffirmed the company's commitment to supporting NWSC's efforts to enhance water and sanitation services.

"We are proud to partner with NWSC to address the water supply challenges facing our country," Maj. Gen. Muzeeyi said.

"We believe that this partnership will not only improve water supply efficiency but also promote research and development, allowing Uganda to manufacture and develop its own engineering solutions."

He linked the initiative to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's vision for self-reliance through homegrown solutions.

Maj. Gen. Muzeeyi praised Dr. Mugisha’s collaborative approach in addressing challenges and expanding water access.

"NWSC has made significant strides in extending water services to many parts of the country, including Kotido, Moroto, and Matany," he said.

"We are committed to supporting NWSC in its efforts to provide safe and clean water to all Ugandans."

Eng. Andrew Muhwezi of NWSC emphasised the technical benefits of the partnership, explaining that while NWSC has refurbishment capabilities, Luwero Industries' advanced workshop facilities will significantly improve efficiency.

"The partnership will enable us to extend the lifespan of our equipment, reduce maintenance costs, and improve overall efficiency," Muhwezi said.

The collaborative framework is set for an initial three-year period, during which both institutions will focus on manufacturing spare parts, improving municipal wastewater management, conducting material testing, and enhancing heat and surface treatment services, capacity development, and research and development.