Kampala residents will face a few challenging days after the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) announced a major water supply interruption affecting large parts of the city. The disruption, scheduled to take place from January 6 to January 7, is expected to leave many areas without water as NWSC undertakes critical infrastructure upgrades.
The announcement has raised concern among residents, who are being urged to prepare for the temporary inconvenience by stocking up on water and minimizing wastage. According to NWSC, the planned works are essential to improve water supply reliability and cater to the growing demand in the capital.
What’s Behind the Disruption?
NWSC revealed that the interruption is due to ongoing upgrades to the Ggaba Water Treatment Plant and the associated transmission pipelines. These improvements are part of a broader strategy to enhance water production and delivery capacity for Kampala and surrounding areas.
The corporation noted that the works are a necessary step to ensure the city’s water infrastructure can keep pace with the rising population and increasing urbanization.
Areas Affected
A wide range of neighborhoods will be impacted, including key parts of Kampala City and its suburbs. Some of the areas listed include:
- Bugolobi
- Muyenga
- Nsambya
- Kansanga
- Naguru
- Ntinda
- Namugongo
- Kira Municipality
NWSC assured customers that water will gradually be restored after the completion of the upgrade works, but it may take some time for supply to stabilize in all areas.
Residents React
News of the water interruption has left many residents scrambling to make contingency plans. While some have started stocking up on water, others expressed frustration over the timing of the disruption, which comes just after the festive season when many households are already stretched.
“We understand the need for maintenance, but such interruptions always catch us off guard. They need to give us more advanced notice,” said one resident in Muyenga.
NWSC’s Call for Patience
NWSC has appealed to the public to bear with the inconvenience, emphasizing the long-term benefits of the upgrades. “We apologize for the inconvenience caused. These upgrades are crucial to improving water supply and service delivery,” the corporation said in a statement.
The utility provider also assured residents that water tankers would be deployed to supply emergency water in the most affected areas during the outage.
What You Can Do
To cope with the water shortage, NWSC advises residents to:
- Store enough water before January 6.
- Use water sparingly during the interruption.
- Report any emergencies or critical needs to NWSC customer service.
For updates, NWSC has urged customers to follow their social media platforms or contact their call center for assistance.
As the city prepares for the disruption, residents are left hoping that the upgrades will indeed deliver on their promise of improved and reliable water supply. Until then, Kampala braces for a dry weekend ahead.
