By Nasser Kasozi Akandwanaho
The National Water and Sewerage Corporation NWSC boss Eng.Dr.Silver Mugisha has underscored the role of technological innovation in enhancing productivity and accelarating water supply across the country.
According to Dr. Silver Mugisha, the production of water in the country is at a ratio of output over input, and can thus be enhanced by maximizing the output and optimizing the inputs. He also shared that economic definition of total productivity as technological change and efficiency change.
On 4th March, National Water and Sewerage Corporation joined the rest of the world to celebrate the World Engineering day under the global theme “Engineering for a healthy Planet”
This was the first time NWSC officially celebrated the day under the NWSC theme “celebrating NWSC’s Engineering Innovations and Technological Advances to Achieve Water for All”
During the event, held at Ggaba water works, over 30 in-house engineering innovations that have helped the corporation push its agenda for water for all were showcased.
Speaking at the event, NWSC MD Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha that technological innovation plays a big role in enhancing productivity and water supply in the country by increasing the out put and enhancing the economic value
thus optimising the inputs.
Eng. Mugisha also shared that economic definition of total productivity as technological change and efficiency change.
He noted that, NWSC is making an effort to increase productivity through technological change and efficiency enhancement to drive its efforts to accelerate service provision at the water utility.
“The event today is a demonstration of what NWSC can do. It is one thing to have an idea and it’s another to bring it to reality. The NWSC Board and management are committed to support innovation and technology geared towards delivering water for all, an aspiration of NDPIII.” he said
Dr. Silver urged innovators to be patriotic and support the BUBU initiative.
He encouraged them to use local materials to complete the Ugandan originality of their products.
He applauded the Government’s efforts in promoting science, technology and innovation.
He highlighted innovations from UBTEB students, the Kayoola EVS bus among many others spurring technological change and economic transformation in Uganda.
Some of the innovations at NWSC include an in house developed water billing system, which according to Dr Silver Mugisha has saved the corporation Shs.800m from annual licenses fees, spare part fabricating
machine, which has saved the corporation from importing spare parts for water pumps, motor rewinding, and a foundry which has helped the corporation to substitute importation of some spare parts and chlorine manufacturing technology which according to Dr. Mugisha,
has brought down operational costs.
Others are smart energy use initiatives, a prototype prepaid meter under development, asset management and financial management systems among many others all aimed at putting technology to practical use, improving the NWSC product offering and cost efficiency.
At the event, the NWSC engineering fraternity recognized NWSC MD Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha, Deputy Managing Director Technical Services Eng Johnson Amayo and Director Engineering services Eng Alex Gisagara for their exemplary leadership and mentoring role to other engineers in the corporation.
The trio have over 20 years of experience in the engineering field at NWSC.
National water and sewerage corporation [NWSC] plans to building a water Museum to preserve history since its formation and going foward.
The facility will help tell the story of the evolution of water pump technology, water treatment process through the years and other innovations in the water and sanitation sector.
