In a world where access to clean water is a problem for millions, there is one man leading the change. Engineer Silver Mugisha, Managing Director of NWSC, stole the show at Kampala’s African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) International Congress and Exhibition 2025. His message was succinct: home-grown solutions and collaborations are the future for ending Africa’s water and sanitation crisis.

The meeting, which was held at Munyonyo, brought together thousands of water and environment experts from across the globe. It was a place for sharing ideas, showcasing innovation, and networking. But to Dr. Mugisha, it was also an opportunity to drive home the importance of working together toward the realization of the “Water for All” vision.

“Partnerships are not just beneficial to us, they are essential,” Dr. Mugisha said in his speech. “They allow us to share knowledge, fuel innovation, and amplify our impact exponentially. We can accomplish so much more together than we ever could alone.”

Dr. Mugisha, president of AfWASA as well, outlined NWSC’s partnerships strategy and future plans for the next couple of years. He emphasized that partnerships were not just essential in the water sector, but also between sectors like energy and environment. “Ecosystem partnerships are very important,” he explained. “They allow us to cut across silos and deal with the interlinked problems we have in an integrated way.”

The NWSC, a government corporation, is presently serving 19 million people in 276 towns in Uganda. Its coverage is an incredible 23,500 kilometers. Despite this milestone, however, Dr. Mugisha acknowledged that more needs to be done. Perhaps the biggest of these challenges is reducing non-revenue water (NRW) to only 34% today. NRW is water lost during transport to customers due to leaks, theft, or other issues. In the capital, Kampala, the problem is particularly acute.

“We are trying very hard to reduce non-revenue water,” added Dr. Mugisha. “While Kampala is a significant challenge, we feel that we can achieve our targets.” NWSC aims to bring NRW down to 30% in the coming few years. This is just one of a number of ambitious targets contained in the corporation’s five-year strategic plan, which also includes increasing its turnover and asset base considerably by 2030.

But it takes more than hard work to get these done. It takes innovation, and NWSC is not shy to think outside the box. Dr. Mugisha referred to the corporation’s investment in indigenous innovation, namely in the field of IT solutions. NWSC has developed its own procurement, billing, and human resource management systems. It is also poised to replace its outsourced finance management solution with one that is home-made.

“We believe in leveraging technology to improve our operations and reduce costs,” Dr. Mugisha explained. “Developing our own IT solutions allows us to tailor them to our specific needs and avoid expensive vendor lock-in.”

This focus on self-reliance is not restricted to technology alone. NWSC has successfully accessed funds from financial markets, demonstrating that it can survive even without external help. “We accept aid, but we don’t depend on it,” declared Dr. Mugisha firmly. “We are clever and can survive even without it. This mentality has helped us raise funds from financial markets.”

Dr. Mugisha also emphasized investing in human beings. He mentioned capacity development, staff rewards, and continuous performance reviews as central aspects of NWSC’s success. “Our people are our greatest asset,” he declared. “We invest in them and empower them to take ownership of their work.”

The NWSC plan has not gone unnoticed. The organization has partnered with organizations in 35 countries, ranging from Australia and Austria to Angola. These partnerships have enabled NWSC to share information and best practices, driving increased efficiency and innovation.

And yet the most interesting aspect of NWSC’s story is its commitment to the “Water for All” agenda. This is more than a slogan; it is a mantra that guides every step the corporation takes. From reducing non-revenue water to better customer satisfaction, all goals are aimed at making more people access clean water and sanitation.

Dr. Mugisha’s speech to the AfWASA Congress was an appeal for action. He urged all stakeholders to work together, pointing to the potential of mutual learning and gain. “Partnerships and collaboration are key to the achievement of water and sanitation for all,” he said. “We must all do our part.”

The AfWASA Congress and Exhibition 2025 was more than a gathering of the specialists. It was a reminder that our challenges are not too big to be conquered. With the appropriate alliances, innovative thinking, and commitment to self-reliance, we can attain “Water for All.” And as has been shown by Dr. Mugisha and the NWSC, the journey is already well progressed.