WaterWorX project: WOP Uganda

• Uganda
• Uganda - National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC)

The WWX WOP Kampala is a WOP between VEI and the NWSC in Uganda. It started in 2017 though the relationship between the two utilities dates back to 2011 with the implementation of the EU capacity development project in Northern Uganda. It is implemented in NWSC’s Kampala Water Area (KWA) with plans to replicate the methods, tools and practices developed and tested in Kampala in the other regions where NWSC is a service provider. The overall objective of the WOP is to strengthen NWSC in the sustainable delivery of cost-effective water services to a rapid growing urban population.  

Specifically, the WOP is assisting NWSC to develop a comprehensive asset management system that enhances business continuity and supply reliability while optimizing the cost of acquisition and management of infrastructure. Key areas of focus include; improving asset management practices (data registration and analysis), establishing resilient water resources management, improving system performance (e.g. NRW reduction measures and initiatives) and maintenance programs and extending the energy saving programs. 

The biggest Achievement of phase 1 of the project are: 

• The development, implementation and use of Asset Management Information Systems Mapkit and CMMS  
• The strengthened sustainable groundwater abstraction practices, with developed standards for groundwater assessment studies, sighting and supervision over borehole drilling and monitoring the sustainable operation of boreholes 
• The formulation of water & sanitation infrastructure investment projects receiving Dutch funding from Invest International 
• Energy audits and hydraulic designs to improve NRW reduction. These practices have now matured to a level that it has potential to yield good results in the second phase of WWX.

Under phase 2 of WWX WOP Uganda, VEI and NWSC have agreed to the following objectives for the WOP: 1. Asset Management Information Systems; roll out and continues development of the functionality of Mapkit and Computerized Maintenance Management System and integration thereof with GIS, SCADA and IScala to support informed decision making based on business intelligence.

• Roll Out, Continuous development and customization of Mapkit (to cover Entebbe, Jinja, Mbale, Mbarara, Gulu and Arua the whole operational scope, production, sewerage)
• Continuous development and roll-out of GIS system (to cover Entebbe, Jinja, Mbale, Mbarara, Gulu and Arua)
• Integration of Mapkit with other key MIS systems, including CMMS, NBS, GIS, Scada and IScala, Asset Register, E-Procurement & E-Inventory
• Development of Business Intelligence platforms to enhance the implementation of Asset Management practices

2. Non-Revenue Water Reduction: Support the implementation of the NRW-reduction strategy (technical losses) in Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area

• Support the establishment of defined water service areas in the network including the top-down measurement of bulk water flows and pressures in the system.
• Condition assessment and improvement (SWALOP) of the network
• Enhancing the network planning and optimisation of the transmission and distribution networks
• Tools and equipment for leak detection, repairs and monitoring of technical losses
• Capacity development for NRW management

3. Capacity building for NWSC in Ground water management and Energy reduction

• Develop geohydrology knowledge to enhance the groundwater studies, siting (yield and quality) and supervision of drilling new boreholes
• Tools and equipment for monitoring and maintaining borehole functionality
• Support the rehabilitation and optimisation of the sustainable yield from existing boreholes
• Support to the development of solar energy proposals and upscale the approach applied in the sustainable water fund project in Northern Uganda
• Continue to support the develop the energy optimisation plan
• Participation in the Young Expert program

4. Investment Mobilization for key infrastructure

• Developing and Implementing a DRIVE project for rationalisation, rehabilitation and optimisation of the Kampala Water distribution system based on condition assessments, network planning and monitoring of flows pressure to reduce NRW in identified service areas
• Implementing the D2B/DRIVE project for Feacal sludge treatment in Kampala.

5. Capacity development for the Ministry of Water: Supporting the Umbrella Authorities and other WWX WOP partners by sharing NWSC knowledge and expertise in peer to peer support missions, International seminars and participation in the Young Expert program

VEI and NWSC will adopt a peer-to-peer learning approach, in close cooperation with the appointed consultant, to support MWE with embedding the outputs of this consultancy such as the developed long term financing strategy and strategic plan, standard operating procedures and systems (for network, commercial, administrative, and financial management) in the Umbrella Authorities, SUM and WURD. This will increase the maturity levels of Umbrella Authorities. As part of this peer-to-peer support the maturity assessments of Umbrella Authorities will be conducted annually; using the Utilities of the Future (WB)-based maturity assessment framework that WWX uses in monitoring maturity level growth of prioritized working processes under the WOP. 

For more information please contact:

Joep Vonk, project manager in Uganda
joep.vonk@vei.nl