The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has assured residents affected by ongoing water pipeline installation works in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) that damaged roads, walkways and other infrastructure will be restored, with reinstatement works expected to begin this month.
The works are part of the Rehabilitation, Restructuring, Rezoning and Extension of the GKMA Water Supply Network Project, which is intended to improve water supply reliability, reduce shortages and meet growing demand in Kampala and surrounding communities.
NWSC said the project had reached an advanced stage, with pipeline installation ongoing in several areas. It acknowledged the temporary inconvenience caused by excavations, particularly along roads and in residential neighbourhoods, but said the disruptions were necessary to install infrastructure required to improve water delivery.
The corporation confirmed that restoring affected areas to their original condition is included in the project scope and that its teams and the contractor had been directed to ensure that roads, verges, walkways and other affected sections are properly reinstated.
Reinstatement has already started on some gravel roads where pipe-laying and testing have been completed. The exercise will continue in other sections as construction works are concluded.
NWSC also said it was coordinating with municipal authorities and the Ministry of Works and Transport to minimise disruption and prioritise the acquisition of utility corridors to reduce the risk of future damage.
Beyond addressing the immediate road concerns, the project is expected to unlock additional water production capacity at the Katosi Water Treatment Plant, which can produce 160 million litres of treated water daily.
However, NWSC said limitations in the existing distribution network have restricted utilisation to about half of that capacity, making the network upgrade critical to delivering more water to communities experiencing shortages.
The project includes the installation of 69 kilometres of transmission mains, construction of reservoirs at Kanyanya, Kabulengwa and Mutungo, and the development of booster stations at Kungu and Kabulengwa. It also involves upgrading the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system across major installations.
Upon completion, the upgraded network is expected to improve water supply in Kira, Kasangati, Namugongo, Buwaate, Bulindo, Mulawa, Gayaza, Matugga, Kawempe, Nansana, Wakiso and surrounding areas.
NWSC projects that the improvements will extend reliable water services to an additional one million people and support demand through 2040.
Although the overall project is scheduled for completion in August 2027, some sections are expected to become operational earlier. The pipeline connecting Namugongo to Kasangati, for example, is scheduled for commissioning in January 2027, allowing residents in the targeted areas to benefit before the entire project is completed.
NWSC urged residents to remain patient as the works progress, reiterating its commitment to minimising disruption and restoring affected infrastructure to its original condition or better.
Residents seeking updates or clarification can contact NWSC Customer Care through the corporation’s established communication channels.
