The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has set aside up to 2 billion Uganda shillings purposely to accelerate the water supply in water-stressed Buhweju district.
This was announced by the NWSC Managing Director, Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha while officiating at a function to launch NWSC Buhweju area, which was recently created to augment NWSC service delivery in Buhweju.
Dr. Mugisha, while addressing stakeholders at Nsiika Playground on Monday 2nd June 2025, said that following the government’s commitment to pay 81 billion out of 100 billion shillings in debts recently, the water utility was planning to use 2 billion to address water concerns in the hilly district.
“The government has been owing us 100 billion, and it has now committed to paying 81 billion. We are going to earmark 2 billion Uganda shillings for all systems and make sure that the people of Buhweju have water,” he said
The NWSC boss mentioned that the water projects that are going to be worked on as Katinda mini water supply project, Nyakishojwa water supply system, adding that some projects have been finished while others are on course.
Dr. Mugisha also clarified that the projects will also be funded under the 100% Service average acceleration project (SCAP 100), which has been allocated 76 billion to ensure water supply in other parts of Uganda.
The Buhweju district leadership led by the district Chairperson, Mr. Deo Atuhaire, and his council. Atuhaire said the district needed more since it has more than enough water sources that can be developed to supply clean and affordable water.
He also pointed that the presence of NWSC services in the district has cause increased water service connectivity.
Leaders said the district has a challenging terrain that makes it hard for the residents to access clean water for domestic use, adding that the absence of water is partly to blame for the escalating domestic violence cases in the district.
According to the Buhweju district Water Officer, Mr. Eric Mutegyereize, up to 33 per cent of the residents in Buhweju district lack clean and affordable water for domestic use, adding that the area terrain and inadequate power extension have limited waster coverage.
How NWSC is going to improve water supply;
Nyakishojwa water supply system;
This is a borehole system that was initially started by the Ministry of Water and Environment, but later stalled before completion. The NWSC is going to carry out pump tests for the borehole, determine the capacity of the borehole and immediately get the borehole pump, pump water to a reservoir and increase water supply in Nyakishojwa parish.
Katinda mini water supply system;
The NWSC boss-led team visited the water source and found three eyes of water converging in one place with the capacity to produce more than five cubic meters per hour according to the experts’ physical observation.
At this water point, NWSC is going to tap the eyes, protect them properly, put a sump where they will put a submersible pump with a pump house, and all pumping system equipment. This will be followed by construction of a reservoir tank uphill, and all these processes will depend on how the water entity will be helped to acquire land. This will take a bit of time due to the technicalities involved, like the purchase of pipes and other equipment, according to Dr. Silver Mugisha.
The Ruceeri water supply system is finished, Kamukaki is almost finished, now at the level of technical commissioning awaiting political commissioning. Other ongoing water supply projects include construction of the Ibariro water supply system, and others. A 40-kilometer pipe system is also being planned to serve more parts of Buhweju.
About NWSC in Buhweju;
NWSC was introduced in Buhweju in 2016, and since then, only seven sub-counties have been connected to the NWSC mandate. They include Nyakishana, Rwengwe, Karungu, Bitsya,Kashenyi-Kajani town council, Nsiika town council, and Buhunga. The area has 686 accounts, of which 174 are public stand pipes/taps.
The district has 352 villages, but NWSC is mandated to supply 145 villages. Out of these, NWSC has supplied 70 villages at a percentage of 48, according to Engineer Edwin Nasasira, the NWSC Buhweju area manager.
