By Spy Uganda
Kampala: National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has completed plans to launch a UGX 373 billion water project aimed at improving water supply in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA).
The much sought after project, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), will involve the rehabilitation, restructuring, rezoning, and extension of the water supply network in the region.
The project, which is part of the Kampala Water Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation (KW-LV WATSAN) project, will see the construction of 71km of primary network pipelines, three booster stations, and three reservoirs with a combined capacity of 13.5 million liters.
The project is expected to benefit an additional 1 million people in areas such as Kira, Kasangati, Kanyanya, Gayaza Road, Kitezi, Kawanda, Matugga, Kawempe, Nansana, Mutungo, Bweyogerere, and Wakiso, among others. This will take the total population served in GKMA to 6 million.
The project aims to address the prevailing water distribution challenges in the GKMA, which have limited the utilization of the Katosi Water Treatment Plant’s capacity.
The plant, which was commissioned in December 2022, has a capacity to supply up to 160 million liters of water per day, but only 52% of this capacity is currently being utilized due to insufficient water distribution capacity.
The project is set to commence on November 15, 2024, and is expected to be completed within 30 months.
The contractor, Sogea Satom of France, will execute the works under the supervision of Artelia in Association with Gauff Consultants Uganda Limited.
With funding from partners such as KfW Development Bank, European Investment Bank (EIB), French Development Agency (AFD), European Union Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-AITF), and counterpart funding from the Government of Uganda under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, significant achievements have been made in improving water supply in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
Notably, the construction of the new water treatment plant at Katosi, commissioned by President Museveni in December 2022, has stabilized water supply in Kampala City and surrounding areas in Mukono and Wakiso districts.
This has enabled previously water-stressed areas to receive a reliable water supply, greatly improving the lives of residents.
The Katosi plant has a design capacity of 240million litres per day, but currently produces 160 million liters of water per day. Ggaba water works produces 240million litres per day. The combined water production from Ggaba and Katosi of 400 million liters per day will cater for the current and future demand for water in the Kampala Metropolitan service area.
These achievements demonstrate the successful collaboration between the Government of Uganda and its partners in driving progress in the water sector.
“Speaking at the signing ceremony, NWSC MD Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha said that the works started in 2010 with a feasibility test, upgrade works at Ggaba water works, Katosi water treatment plant, associated transmission main, among other works. He appreciated the unwavering support from the development partners and the Government of Uganda.
Eng Mugisha added that the Katosi water treatment plant, commissioned in 2020 was designed to stabilize water supply in Kampala but is only delivering 52%. The water evacuation system being designed address the water challenges for the Kampala Metropolitan service area.
Mugisha stressed to the contractor that the project should be delivered within cost and time.
Sogea Satom Country Director appreciated NWSC for renewing its trust in the company that has already delivered some of the project components. He pledged to deliver the project as constructed.
