'Stagnating water coverage compelling govt to use expensive technologies'

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In a bid to impact unserved and underserved areas in Uganda, the Government through the water ministry (MWE) is resorting to expensive technologies to address this issue, New Vision Online has learnt. 

These technologies both software and hardware, according to the water ministry, are expensive to install, maintain and replace.

Ministry commissioner Eng. Chris Tumusiime made the revelations at the 94th African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) strategic and technical meeting (STC) in Kampala on Monday, November 18, 2024.

“Our set up of population in Uganda, especially when it comes to the rural areas, is sparsely populated. We are not concentrated in settlements,” he said.

“So, you find somebody goes and builds a house on top of the hill and expects to be served with water the next neighbour is about a kilometre away. Therefore, serving such a population using piped water supply is a challenge," he added.

The three-day continental event hosted by Uganda through the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is running till today at the International Resource Centre in Kampala.

Some of the stakeholders posing for a picture after the 4th African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) strategic and technical meeting (STC) in Kampala. (Photo by Benjalina Namazzi)

Tumusiime said the NWSC-serviced areas and towns are served by piped water supply while other more rural territories are serviced by other alternatives.

“But then we get those which are lower a mix of point water sources in form of solar pumping and piped water supplies then we get those rural areas which are served mainly by the point water sources,” he said.

Tumusiime noted that President Museveni at one time introduced a measurement indicator which cannot be found in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The number of villages served.

“Simply because land in Uganda belongs to the people,” he said, adding: “Because of this, you find that people choose to settle anywhere”.

In these villages across the country, he said people choose to reside in secluded places and yet they expect a service which is increasingly difficult due to the terrain or distance between two or more customers.

“So, we have an indicator of the number of villages served and it is a presidential indicator. That is how we perform of the total 63,000 villages in the country and that is how we are serving them,” he emphasised.

Other notable speakers at the continental conference, included NWSC board chairperson Dr. Eng. Badru Kiggundu, Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha AfWASA’s president, also NWSC managing director and AfWASA executive director Francois Olivier Gosso. 

Mugisha commended former AfWASA executive director for the smooth transition of leadership and his willingness to co-operate with the new management of the continental body.

The colourful African event was marked by a grand entry featuring 'Bantu' cultural dance troupe that ushered in the international guests with dramatic Afro-dance moves as they musically drummed and welcomed the foreign delegates to Uganda. Clad in the national colours of the Uganda flag, with a tinge of traditional regalia, the cultural troupe entertained the guests with an impressive performance that reverberated in the entire vicinity.

Mugisha noted that disruptive technology has now become a common phrase which is common in many international conferences so they had to bring it down here. According to Mugisha, the theme for this STC is ‘disruptive technology and innovation as accelerators for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6’ in Africa.  

“What does it mean for us? what are we disrupting?” he asked the dignitaries. 

“I want to invite you to reflect on the process. If you want to move towards SDG Number Six, we should be thinking of disrupting our processes by making them much more efficient.”

AfWASA former executive director Sylvain Usher commended the reigning AFWA president Olivier Gosso and NWSC as one of the companies that was very active as the chair of AFWASA.

He also commended NWSC for accepting to organise the next AFWA congress which will be taking place in Kampala between 16th to 20th February 2025.

The 94th edition of the three-day continental conference has attracted over 40 delegates of water utility companies from across Africa and beyond, including Senegal, Malawi, South Africa, Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Ethiopia as well as Uganda - the host nation.