National Water and Sewerage Corporation
Uganda’s government-owned provider of urban water supply, sewerage, and sanitation services.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) is Uganda’s wholly government-owned water and sanitation utility. It provides potable-water production and distribution, sewerage services, wastewater management, and related sanitation infrastructure in urban areas and an expanding group of towns. The corporation was established in 1972 under Decree No. 34, initially serving Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja. Its institutional role was substantially reshaped in 1995, when the NWSC Statute granted it broader authority and greater operational autonomy to provide water and sewerage services on a commercially viable basis in areas assigned to it. NWSC has become one of Uganda’s principal public infrastructure operators. Its activities cover the development and operation of water-treatment works, transmission and distribution networks, reservoirs, sewerage systems, customer connections, and associated maintenance and service functions. The utility’s geographic remit has expanded well beyond its original three urban centers. By March 2018, it reported operations in 225 Ugandan towns and had plans to extend connections to thousands of villages located within its service areas. The corporation has also announced initiatives to reach selected rural communities, although its core mandate and operating identity remain closely associated with urban and town-based water services. A major part of NWSC’s investment program has focused on the Kampala metropolitan area, including Kampala City and adjoining parts of Wakiso, Mukono, Nansana, Ssabagabo, and Kira. The program combines public funding with support from KfW, the European Investment Bank, the French Development Agency, and the European Union Infrastructure Trust Fund. Katosi Water Works in Mukono District was developed as a major additional source, with an initial stated capacity of 120,000 cubic metres per day. The project complements the Ggaba treatment complex, comprising Ggaba I, Ggaba II, and Ggaba III, whose existing sources were reported at a combined daily capacity of approximately 160,000 cubic metres. NWSC’s output and reach increased significantly during the 2010s and early 2020s. Reference material states that daily potable-water supply reached approximately 730 million cubic metres in October 2023, compared with 276 million cubic metres a decade earlier; the published figures imply an increase of about 85 percent, although the units and presentation should be independently checked. In 2024, non-revenue water was reported at 34 percent, with a target of reducing it to 30 percent by 2029. The estimated population benefiting from NWSC supply was approximately 18 million in 2024, with a stated target of 25 million by 2029. The corporation also manages substantial energy requirements. In 2014 it sought a private partner to build, own, and operate a 7-megawatt power station serving the Ggaba treatment plants. The proposed arrangement was intended to reduce electricity costs and contemplated a 20-year power-purchase agreement, with possible sale of surplus power to the national grid. NWSC is governed by a board and led operationally by a managing director and chief executive officer. Its new headquarters on Nakasero Hill in Kampala was commissioned in July 2018. As a public utility, its positioning combines national infrastructure stewardship, broad service coverage, operational self-sufficiency, and the public-service objective of improving access to safe water and sanitation.
History
National Water and Sewerage Corporation was created by Decree No. 34 in 1972 as Uganda’s public water and sewerage provider for the principal urban centers of Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja. Its original role was focused on operating and developing urban water-supply and sewerage systems. In 1995, the corporation was reorganized under the NWSC Statute. The new legal framework expanded its mandate and gave it greater authority and autonomy to operate assigned water and sewerage services on a sound commercial and financially viable basis. Following the reorganization, NWSC developed into a broader national utility serving cities and towns across Uganda. Its responsibilities include water abstraction, treatment, bulk transmission, distribution, customer service, sewerage collection, wastewater treatment, and construction or rehabilitation of related infrastructure. The organization is divided into multiple operational and administrative units led by directors, general managers, senior managers, and managers. Governance is provided by a board of directors, while day-to-day leadership rests with the managing director and chief executive officer. A central strategic priority has been improving supply reliability and coverage in the Kampala metropolitan area. In 2011, NWSC began implementing a large expansion program covering Kampala and surrounding jurisdictions, including Wakiso, Mukono, Nansana, Ssabagabo, and Kira. The program was financed through a combination of Ugandan government resources, KfW grant support, European Investment Bank lending, French Development Agency lending, and an EU Infrastructure Trust Fund grant. Its main elements included new production capacity, rehabilitation of existing treatment facilities, and expansion of distribution infrastructure. Katosi Water Works in Mukono District became a major component of this investment effort. The facility was planned with an initial capacity of 120,000 cubic metres per day and was intended to complement the Ggaba treatment complex, which includes Ggaba I, Ggaba II, and Ggaba III. Together, these projects were designed to strengthen supply to the rapidly growing Kampala metropolitan market and reduce dependence on existing production assets. NWSC’s geographic reach continued to grow. In 2015 the corporation discussed extending services into some rural areas. By March 2018, it reported operations in 225 towns and planned to connect 12,000 villages within its service areas by 2020. The corporation also completed a new headquarters building at 3 Nakasero Road on Nakasero Hill in Kampala; the building was commissioned by Uganda’s prime minister in July 2018. Energy costs have been a recurring operational issue. In 2014, NWSC sought a private-sector partner for a 7-megawatt independent power station serving the Ggaba plants. The proposed build-own-operate model was intended to lower the utility’s electricity bill, which reference material identified as a substantial share of operating expenditure. The proposed partner would have entered a 20-year power-purchase agreement with NWSC, with an option for surplus electricity to be sold to the national grid. By the early 2020s, the corporation had substantially increased reported water production and population coverage. Reference material records daily potable-water supply of approximately 730 million cubic metres in October 2023, compared with 276 million cubic metres in 2013, and reports that 18 million people benefited from NWSC supply in 2024. It also identifies non-revenue water as a continuing efficiency challenge: the 2024 level was reported at 34 percent, with a target of 30 percent by 2029. Later expansion plans included additional Katosi production, new pipelines, and reservoirs for northern and western Kampala and neighboring Wakiso areas, with construction expected to continue through 2027. These quantitative figures and the 2026 project timing should be verified against current NWSC or government publications.
- 2026
Kampala and Wakiso network expansion
[1]Reference material reports the start of works involving Katosi capacity expansion, new distribution pipes, and additional reservoirs, with anticipated completion in the second quarter of 2027.
- 2024
Coverage and non-revenue-water targets
[1]NWSC was reported to serve approximately 18 million people, with targets of 25 million by 2029 and a reduction in non-revenue water from 34 percent to 30 percent.
- 2023
Reported increase in potable-water output
[1]Reference material reported daily potable-water supply of approximately 730 million cubic metres in October 2023, compared with 276 million cubic metres in 2013.
- 2018
New Kampala headquarters commissioned
[1]NWSC’s headquarters at 3 Nakasero Road was commissioned in July 2018.
- 2015
Rural-service expansion plans
[1]The corporation announced plans to extend selected services beyond its established urban and town network.
- 2014
Ggaba power-station procurement initiative
[1]NWSC sought a private partner for a proposed 7-megawatt independent power facility serving the Ggaba treatment plants.
- 2011
Launch of Kampala metropolitan expansion program
[1]NWSC began a major program to improve water supply across Kampala and neighboring parts of Wakiso, Mukono, Nansana, Ssabagabo, and Kira.
- 1995
Reorganization under the NWSC Statute
[1]The corporation received a broader mandate and greater autonomy to operate water and sewerage services on a commercially viable basis.
- 1972
Creation of NWSC
[1]Decree No. 34 established the corporation to provide water and sewerage services in Kampala, Entebbe, and Jinja.
Products and positioning
Uganda’s leading public water and sanitation utility, combining national infrastructure development with commercially oriented urban service delivery.
Utility service · 1972
Potable water supply
NWSC abstracts, treats, transmits, and distributes drinking water to households, businesses, institutions, and other customers in its authorized service areas. Its supply system draws on major treatment assets including the Ggaba complex and Katosi Water Works, supported by trunk infrastructure, reservoirs, and local distribution networks.
Utility service · 1972
Sewerage and wastewater services
The corporation provides sewerage collection and wastewater-related services as part of its statutory water and sanitation mandate. These activities include operating and maintaining sewerage infrastructure and supporting urban sanitation systems in areas entrusted to NWSC.
Water-treatment infrastructure
Katosi Water Works
Katosi Water Works in Mukono District is a major treatment and production facility developed to add capacity for the Kampala metropolitan area and surrounding communities. Its initial stated production capacity was 120,000 cubic metres per day, with later expansion plans calling for a further 80,000 cubic metres per day.
Water-treatment infrastructure
Ggaba water-treatment complex
The Ggaba complex comprises Ggaba I, Ggaba II, and Ggaba III treatment plants. It is one of NWSC’s established production centers and forms part of the supply platform supporting Kampala and the wider metropolitan area.
Brand decisions
2026
Northern and western Kampala network expansionStrategyBackground
Continued growth in Kampala and neighboring Wakiso areas created demand for additional production and distribution capacity.
Action taken
NWSC began works to expand Katosi production, lay new distribution pipelines, and construct above-ground reservoirs.
Aftermath
Construction was anticipated to finish in the second quarter of 2027 according to the reference material.
Reported French government investment. €480 million (2026 expansion program)
2015
Planned extension into rural service areasStrategyBackground
NWSC’s established mandate and network were concentrated in urban areas and towns, while national policy objectives called for wider access to water services.
Action taken
The corporation announced plans to begin serving selected rural areas and later described village-connection objectives within its service territories.
Aftermath
By March 2018, NWSC was reported to operate in 225 towns and to have planned connections for 12,000 villages by 2020.
2014
Proposed independent power station for GgabaStrategyBackground
Electricity costs represented a significant operating burden for the Ggaba treatment plants.
Action taken
NWSC invited a private partner to build, own, and operate a 7-megawatt power station under a proposed 20-year power-purchase agreement.
Aftermath
The reference material does not establish whether the proposed procurement was completed.
Annual power bill. Approximately USh 24 billion, reported as about 35 percent of operating expenditure (2014)
2011
Kampala metropolitan water-supply expansionStrategyBackground
Population growth and rising demand in Kampala and adjacent districts required additional production capacity and network improvements.
Action taken
NWSC implemented a multi-financier expansion program covering new treatment capacity, rehabilitation of the Ggaba complex, and distribution improvements.
Aftermath
The program supported the development of Katosi Water Works and broader metropolitan supply expansion.
Program financing. €212 million planned program (2011 program)
Recent events
- 2026
NWSC begins expansion of Kampala and Wakiso water networks[1]
Other
Reference material reports the start of a network-expansion project in northern and western Kampala and neighboring areas of Wakiso District. The work includes additional production capacity at Katosi Water Works, new distribution pipes, and above-ground reservoirs, with completion anticipated in the second quarter of 2027.
- 2024
NWSC reports expanded water output and service reach[1]
Other
Reference material states that NWSC served an estimated 18 million people in 2024 and reported non-revenue water of 34 percent, with targets of 25 million beneficiaries and 30 percent non-revenue water by 2029.
- 2015
NWSC announces plans to extend services to rural areas[1]
Other
NWSC announced plans to begin serving selected rural areas, broadening its traditional urban and town-focused service footprint.
- 2014
NWSC seeks private partner for Ggaba power station[1]
Other
The corporation advertised for a private partner to develop a 7-megawatt independent power facility for the Ggaba treatment plants under a proposed long-term power-purchase arrangement.
Sources1 sources
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