Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha, the Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), has called for a shift towards co-creation and tailored innovations in the water sector, warning against the pitfalls of relying on imported solutions that may not match or meet local needs.
Eng Mugisha’s remarks came during a keynote address at the UK pavilion at the International Water Association (IWA) conference in Toronto on August 13, 2024, where he was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the global water sector.
Eng. Mugisha cautioned against the blind adoption of foreign technologies, emphasizing that solutions effective in countries like the UK may not be applicable in Uganda.
“This approach recognizes the importance of local expertise and knowledge in developing effective solutions, advocating for partnerships that enable the sharing of solutions to common challenges, such as meter inefficiencies,” he said.
He highlighted the critical need for collaboration and flexibility in achieving NWSC’s goals.
“We don’t lack money, but we need partners who are willing to work with us to develop solutions that meet our needs,” Eng. Mugisha noted.
He further urged governments to fulfill their financial obligations, stressing that efficiency and benchmarking are essential to reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) and enhancing overall efficiency.
Additionally, the ED emphasized the importance of investing in the youth, whom he believes are the future leaders of the water sector.
“We need to capacitate our youthful staff and foster knowledge exchange programs—the opportunities under the Young Water Professionals (YWP) program,” he noted.
Since he took the helm of NWSC in 2013, Eng. Mugisha has shifted the organization’s focus from profits to service delivery, significantly expanding its reach.
Under his leadership, NWSC has grown from serving 23 towns to over 270, now providing water services to 18 million people and increasing customer connections from 296,206 to 874,129.
He currently aims to expand services to 300 towns and serve 25 million people by 2026, with a projected annual turnover of UGX 650 billion.
Key achievements during his tenure include growing the annual turnover from UGX 155 billion to UGX 519 billion and increasing assets under management from UGX 650 billion to UGX 4,100 billion.
Eng. Mugisha attributed this success to strategic clarity, robust governance, and a commitment to the public interest.