The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has reported major growth in its financial performance, infrastructure and customer base over the past 10 years, as it seeks to contribute to Uganda’s social and economic transformation.
According to a report presented by NWSC managing director Dr Silver Mugisha, the corporation’s annual operating surplus before depreciation increased from about Shs40 billion to Shs 197 billion.
The value of assets under the corporation’s management also rose significantly, from about Shs 580 billion to an estimated Shs5 trillion.
Dr Mugisha said the growth has also been reflected in the expansion of the water supply network and the number of customers connected to the service.
“I am proud to mention that infrastructure expansion has seen total water network lengths aggressively expand from 6,000 kilometres to 25,000 kilometres, while customer connections have multiplied from 300,000 to more than 1.06 million,” he said.
The expansion means that millions more people can access piped water services through the corporation’s growing network, although NWSC acknowledges that challenges remain in some parts of the country.
One of the major challenges is unreliable water supply in parts of the Kampala metropolitan area and some other operational areas.
Dr Mugisha said NWSC is using technology to improve the efficiency of its operations and address some of the challenges affecting service delivery.
The corporation has introduced several digital systems, including electronic payment and billing systems intended to improve revenue collection and make it easier for customers to pay for water services.
It has also introduced electronic procurement systems, financial and accounting systems, an electronic human resource management system and an electronic water quality management system.
According to Dr Mugisha, the systems are intended to reduce inefficiencies, strengthen accountability and improve the way the corporation delivers services to the public.
Another area highlighted by NWSC is its use of force-account contracting for medium-sized construction projects.
Force-account contracting is a system where an organisation uses its own staff, equipment and resources to carry out construction works instead of fully outsourcing the work to an external contractor.
Dr Mugisha said NWSC uses the approach where it considers it more cost-effective and appropriate for particular projects.
“NWSC heavily emphasises force-account contracting to execute medium-sized construction projects,” he said, adding that the approach is intended to help the corporation control costs.
Dr Mugisha also addressed concerns that have been raised publicly about accountability and transparency at the corporation.
He said NWSC takes accountability seriously and that its operations are subject to oversight and auditing by relevant government institutions.
“I have been very thorough when it comes to accountability. The office of the Inspector General of Government has already carried out an audit exercise,” he said.
He rejected allegations of personal corruption and urged people with concerns about the corporation’s conduct to use the appropriate accountability and oversight mechanisms.
“I am not corrupt. Please, you only have your personal issues with me,” Dr Mugisha said.
