By Andrew Irumba
Leading telecommunications company MTN Uganda has teamed up with National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) to fight Coronavirus in Uganda by providing free water to Ugandans for washing hands.
It should be noted that President Yoweri Museveni recently urged all Ugandans to wash their hands frequently with soap, detergents and sanitizers, as one of the ways to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
It is upon this Presidential Directive that MTN and NWSC have teamed in the efforts to avail water and soap to Water-stressed areas, such that people in those areas can easily access water for hand washing.
According to joint NWSC – MTN statement released by both MTN and NWSC, this initiative is part of efforts to promote hand washing as one of several precautions in the fight against COVID-19.
The statement reads in part thus; National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and MTN Uganda have joined hands to provide 100 public water points to supply water to water stressed areas of Kampala during the Coronavirus (COV19) outbreak.
Commenting about this initiative, the MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer, Wim Vanhelleputte, said that this partnership alongside several others implemented in the effort to fight COVID-19, are a demonstration of the brand’s commitment to support Ugandans in our hour of need.
“MTN believes that the resilience of communities is strongest when people work together. That is why MTN, working through institutions like NWSC, is supporting the delivery of much needed water to underserved areas in the fight to avert a covid-19 pandemic in the country.”
The areas to benefit include water stressed areas at the periphery of the network which currently receive intermittent supply or no water at all.
Each of the 100 spots will be supplied by a 10,000 litre capacity tank that will supply water at the official NWSC public tap tariff of Shs25 per 20 liter jerry can.
Whereas Kampala Water is currently able to produce 240 million liters of water per day, peak demand is 300 million liters per day. To bridge this shortfall NWSC is currently undertaking the construction of a 240 million liter per day capacity water treatment plant in Katosi to the East of Kampala.
The first phase to be completed in January 2021 will deliver 160 million liters of water per day.
The partnership with MTN will provide short term relief to NWSC customers in water stressed areas as NWSC undertakes the completion of the Katosi Water Treatment Plant. MTN has provided Shs220 million towards the partnership.
Under the partnership, the NWSC will procure the tanks, construct the water points and ensure that they are provided with water using water bowsers. Over 30,000 households will benefit from this joint water supply intervention.
The areas to benefit include Kyengera (Nagalabi-Kisozi), Wakiso-Kikoro, Mukono-Kasenge, Seeta (Kagala-Bukelele), Kyaliwajjala, Kijabijo, Kiteezi, Kiryagonja, (Bulindo-Kira-Nsasa-Kilyamuli), Matugga-Buwuzume, Bulenga-Ganda-Bulenga, Kyebando Central, Gayaza, Nateete, Upper Nalumunye, Nansana, Kireka-Kamuli, Wakiso-Ssenge, Nansana-Gganda, Namagoma, Mukono-Nakapinyi, Ndejje-Ggangu, Najjanankumbi-Kitiko among others.
We are grateful for this partnership with MTN Uganda during the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak where water is a critical input in the prevention of infection and spread of the virus. CNWSC is committed to providing water for all during this sensitive period.
