NWSC Expands Water Network by 1,024km, Takes Services to 22 Million Ugandans
The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has recorded a major milestone in Uganda’s water sector after extending its distribution network by 1,024 kilometres in the 2025/2026 financial year, significantly exceeding its planned target. The expansion has helped the corporation increase access to water, with the number of people served rising to 22 million as it continues investing in infrastructure to meet growing demand.
The achievement was highlighted during the NWSC Baraza 2026 at IREC Bugolobi, where the corporation reviewed its annual performance and discussed ways to improve water service delivery. Anna Nyadoi, the corporation’s Principal Economist, revealed that NWSC achieved 205 per cent of its target after extending the network beyond the planned 500 kilometres under its Strategic Plan 2025–2030.
During the same financial year, the corporation established 62,226 new water connections, surpassing its target of 60,000. This increased its total customer connections from approximately 1.004 million to 1.064 million, representing growth of about six per cent. The population served also rose from 19 million to 22 million, demonstrating progress in extending water services to more households and businesses.
NWSC Managing Director Dr Silver Mugisha attributed the growing demand for water to rapid urbanisation and the development of new residential and commercial areas. He said the corporation must continue expanding its network, installing larger pipes and upgrading existing infrastructure to ensure that the growing population receives adequate supplies. From initially serving three designated towns, NWSC now operates in 293 urban centres across Uganda.
Mugisha further emphasised the importance of working closely with local leaders and other stakeholders to identify community needs and address concerns affecting water supply. He said the corporation intends to hold stakeholder engagements every six months to review performance and strengthen cooperation. He also appealed to the public to remain patient during construction works, including road excavations required to install water pipelines and extend services to underserved communities.
Despite the impressive expansion, NWSC faces challenges in controlling water losses and ensuring consistent supplies in some locations. Its non-revenue water level increased from 33.7 per cent to 34.4 per cent, falling short of the target of reducing it to 32 per cent. The losses are associated with factors such as leaking pipes, illegal connections and metering inaccuracies, which increase operational costs and reduce revenue from treated water.
The corporation also registered strong financial results, recording annual turnover of Shs 678 billion, equivalent to 119 per cent of its target and a five per cent increase over the baseline year. Its infrastructure asset base expanded from approximately Shs 4.8 trillion to Shs 5 trillion. Customer engagement also improved from 79 per cent to 82 per cent, exceeding the set target. However, inadequate water production continued to affect network expansion in parts of Kampala and the Central Region, highlighting the need to increase production capacity alongside distribution infrastructure.
Under the theme “Water for All; For Health and Prosperity,” the NWSC Baraza 2026 underscored the importance of making safe, reliable and affordable water accessible to more Ugandans. As the corporation implements its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, it aims to expand its network, improve operational efficiency, reduce water losses and strengthen service delivery. The continued success of these efforts will depend on addressing supply constraints and ensuring that the growing infrastructure translates into reliable water for the millions of people who depend on NWSC.
