National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has signed a contract for the construction of a modern mega drinking water treatment plant in Katosi, to the east of Kampala.
The new plant which will initially produce 160 million litres of water per day will be constructed by Sogea/Suez International. The plant is designed eventually to produce a massive 240 million litres of water per day.
The current daily supply of water from Ggaba Water Works is 240 million litres. The additional 160 million litres of water per day will take the total of water volumes for Kampala Water service area to 400 million litres per day. Currently Kampala Water serves Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono.
The additional 160 million litres of water from the Katosi plant will serve the growing clean safe water needs of more than 7.5million people in Kampala Metropolitan up to 2040.
The sh378 billion (Euros 84 million) project will be funded by the Government of Uganda, the European Investment Bank, The German Funding Agency KfW, The French Funding Agency AfD, and the EU Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund.
Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, Sogea Satom chief Christopher Touret said they have a lot of experience with water projects. ” We have done a lot in the water and sanitation industry and will not disappoint the people of Uganda. We shall do our best to ensure that the project is delivered on time,” he said.
NWSC MD Dr.Eng Silver Mugisha shared that the Government of Uganda through NWSC is investing in a nunber of water and sanitation projects to improve the lives of the people of Uganda.
NWSC is currently undertaking large projects including the 43 million litre capacity Bugolobi Sewerage Treatment Plant, Arua Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Gulu Water Suppy Impovement Project and Bushenyi Kitagata Water
According to Dr Silver, Katosi water works will serve a population equivalent of over 7.5 million people in Kampala Service area by the year 2040. This will also boost industrialisation more especially in the Eastern part of Kampala.
The current population served is between 2.5million to 3million people. We’re planning ahead for about 7.5million people by 2040.” he added. “NWSC is committed to 100% service coverage, infrastructure expansion, increased geographical coverage, water quality and customer delight.”
The works Sogea/Suez International will undertaken include a 240 million litre capacity offshore water intake, 160 million capacity drinking water treatment plant, 10 million litre capacity reservoir on Nsumba Hill, construction 10km bulk water transmission pipeline of 1400 millimeter diameter and 55kms transmission main to associated water reservoirs in Kampala.
The project design will be undertaken for 6 months from the date of contract June– December 2018. Construction work will last 24 months starting Jan 2019 and completion, testing and commissioning will be in January –March 2021.
