By Adrine Blessing Atuhaire
This morning, Katosi Drinking Water Treatment Plant contractors and consultants handed over the newly completed 240million litres per day capacity Plant to NWSC.
The function was witnessed by the corporation’s Board Chairman Eng. Dr. Prof Badru.M.Kiggundu, chairman technical committee of the board George Runge, NWSC MD Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha and NWSC project engineers.
Speaking at the hand over ceremony, NWSC Board Chairman Eng.Dr. Prof Baddru.M. Kiggundu appreciated the management of NWSC for the excellent supervisory role of the project.
“This project was like a dream that has now come true. With it, we are going to resolve all the water supply challenges in Kampala City.
“We are happy to note that some customers, previously in dry zone areas are already getting water. We are now working to serve other customers.” he said
Eng Kiggundu said that the project works have inculcated new innovative engineering skills among NWSC engineers which will subsequently improve services to the people.
He assured city dwellers of excellent water quality, excellent customer service and urged them to report all supply challenges to NWSC.
The chairman technical committee of the Board Mr. George Runge applauded the contractor and consultant for transformational works at Katosi. He reiterated NWSC’s commitment towards water for all across the country.
NWSC MD Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha congratulated the Government of Uganda and its people on this big milestone.
“This is an important day in our history as we receive the second water treatment plant for Kampala. With the additional water from Katosi, the combined water production from Ggaba and Katosi will help us address all dry zones in the city.” he said
According to Dr. Silver, customers in Seeta-Mukono, Mutungo, Sonde, Kyaliwajjala, Mbalwa, Namugongo, Kireka, Kyaliwajjala, Kungu, Nsasa, Kasangati, Gayaza, Najjera, Kiwatule, Naalya among many others are already connected to the new system.
“NWSC engineers have embarked on laying distribution mains to send the water to the entire Kampala Metropolitan service area. Plans are also underway to serve customers along Katosi road, Kisoga, Lugazi, Buikwe and the surrounding areas using the same system.” he added
He extended gratitude to the Government of Uganda, Ministry of Water and Environment and the development partners for the importance they place on the Water and Environment sector which has a fundamental role in ensuring the socio economic transformation and fulfilment of Government’s mission towards the development and Economic growth in the Country.
The Katosi Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Katosi-Kampala Transmission Mains Projects are part of the wider KW-LVWATSAN Project, whose objective is: To improve the living conditions of the residents in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area through provision of safe and reliable water supply services.
The Projects were funded by the Government of Uganda (GoU), National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), European Union Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-ITF), European Investment Bank (EIB), Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), and Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW).
The plant has a design capacity of 160,000m³/day (80,000m3/day + 80,000m3/day), with provision for future expansion to 240,000m³/day. The Katosi-Kampala Transmission Mains on the other hand was designed to evacuate and convey all 160,000m3/day produced in Katosi into the Kampala Water supply network.
Main Project Components
Katosi Drinking Water Treatment Plant;
•500m of DN1500 Off-shore Water Abstraction Pipeline into Lake Victoria (laid on the lake bed at a depth of 11m)
•Intake Structure and Raw Water Pump station on the shore of Lake Victoria
•Drinking Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) and Drinking Water Pumping Station (80,000m3/d + 80,000m3/d)
•Ductile Iron Pumping Transmission Main (10km, DN1400)
•Four (04) No. Storage Tanks at Nsumba hill, each with a capacity of 10,000m3
•33kV Power line extension from the new Mukono Industrial Estate Substation to the Katosi DWTP (over 40km)
•Administration Office Block, Laboratory, Workshop, Staff Houses
•Installation of SCADA and automation of the Plant operations
Katosi-Kampala Transmission Mains
•39km of DN 1400 ductile iron clear water transmission main from Nsumba reservoir to Namugongo
•2.3 km of DN 500/600 to existing reservoirs at Mukono and Seeta
•Reinforced concrete water storage reservoir of capacity 15,000 m3 at Sonde
•Booster station at Namugongo with two duty and one standby water pumps
•10 km of DN 700 ductile iron clear water pumping main, from Namugongo booster station to the existing Naguru reservoir
•Staff houses at Sonde reservoir site and Namugongo booster station site.
•Installation of SCADA system
