Uganda's National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has unveiled a five-year strategic plan worth 6.79 trillion Ugandan shillings (approximately $1.8 billion) to expand clean water and sanitation services across the country between 2025 and 2030.
The plan is to be funded through a combination of domestic resources, government financing, and contributions from development partners. The NWSC says the strategy aims to extend coverage to 26.2 million people by 2030, up from 19.5 million currently, and to increase water connections from their present level to 1.29 million.
One operational target is reducing non-revenue water losses (water produced but not billed due to leaks, theft, or metering issues) from 34% to 28%. The plan also incorporates climate resilience measures intended to protect water sources and infrastructure from drought, flooding, and other climate-related disruptions.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of significant challenges. In the Greater Kampala area, only 10% of the capital's population is connected to the public sewerage network. While basic sanitation facilities are relatively common, waste treatment capacity is limited, particularly in low-income areas. Authorities estimate that households collectively spend around $5 million per year treating diarrheal diseases attributable to inadequate sanitation.
Uganda's water sector faces broader structural pressures, including constrained financing and climate variability that regularly disrupts supply. A separate long-term initiative, the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Water Security Action and Investment Plan, is valued at $4.3 billion and targets improvements in water resource management and urban infrastructure through 2040.
