By Nantongo Johannah
KATOSI, Uganda — Millions of residents in North and West Kampala are set to benefit from improved water access as the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD), advances a major expansion of the Katosi water supply network.
The ambitious infrastructure project aims to bridge longstanding distribution gaps and ensure that water produced at the Katosi Water Treatment Plant reaches households across the rapidly growing Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.
During a site visit on Thursday, French Ambassador to Uganda Virginie Leroy described the French-funded Package 2B project as a strategic investment designed to translate Katosi’s high production capacity into reliable household connections.
“This partnership between France and Uganda is built for the long term to meet the objectives of Vision 2040, with a shared ambition to develop sustainable infrastructure for the benefit of the population,” Ambassador Leroy said. “This relationship of trust is the foundation of flagship projects that bring tangible improvements to people’s daily lives.”
Addressing Distribution Gaps
Katosi Plant Manager Joseph Tweheyo Baine explained that although the plant has the capacity to produce 160 million liters of water per day, it is currently operating at about 52 percent capacity due to historical shortcomings in the distribution network.
The ongoing expansion project, launched in February 2025, is designed to eliminate those bottlenecks. It includes the installation of 70 kilometers of primary pipelines and the construction of major reservoirs at Kanyanya, Kabulengwa, and Mutungo.
Foundation works at the Kungu and Kabulengwa booster stations are complete, and excavation for a 10-million-liter reservoir at Kanyanya has been finalized. Inspections were also conducted at SOGEA’s works at the Kungu pumping station and Kanyanya reservoir.
Pipe laying is already underway in the Mpererwe–Kawempe–Nansana corridor, with substantial completion of the entire network expected by July 2027, marking a 30-month implementation period.
Additionally, the low-level bulk water transmission pipeline serving Kiira–Kasangati will be completed and operational by December 2026, supplying areas including Namugongo, Kiira, Buwaate, Bulindo, Mulawa, Kasangati, and surrounding communities.
Expanding Access to Growing Communities
Once complete, the project will significantly improve water reliability in fast-growing areas such as Kira, Kasangati, Gayaza, Matugga, Kawempe, Nansana, and Wakiso.
The initiative also incorporates a strong pro-poor component. Co-funded with Germany’s KfW, the program has already delivered 1,400 prepaid public standpipes and 64 sanitation facilities, benefiting approximately 450,000 residents in informal settlements.
Ambassador Leroy commended NWSC’s efficiency and value-for-money approach, noting that the 480 million euros invested by France through AFD reflects a long-term commitment to Uganda’s water and sanitation sector.
Increased Investment and Capacity
Following the successful use of initial funding, the AFD board in December 2025 approved additional financing to increase Katosi’s production capacity by 80,000 cubic meters per day and extend the water network by another 50 kilometers. The broader program is also supported by the European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and KfW.
Alex Gisagara, Senior Adviser for Engineering Services at NWSC, described the project as the “missing link” ensuring that the massive investment in water production at Katosi translates into real service delivery for residents.
Rapid Growth of NWSC
The expansion comes amid significant institutional growth at NWSC. Since 2013, under the leadership of Managing Director Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha, the corporation has expanded from operating in 23 towns to 287 towns by early 2026.
Over the same period, NWSC’s asset base has grown from 650 billion shillings to 5 trillion shillings. The utility now manages more than one million water connections, serving an estimated 22 million people nationwide.
Under its 2024–2027 Corporate Plan, NWSC aims to increase connections to 1.1 million and extend services to 24 million people, reinforcing its goal of universal water coverage.
With the Katosi expansion well underway, millions in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area are expected to see improved access to safe and reliable drinking water by 2030.