The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has revealed plans to establish more new sewerage infrastructure in city in a move that should contribute to the reduction of the bad smell from the old sewerage systems.
The remarks were made by NWSC Board chairman Dr. Eng Christopher Ebal during the technical hand over of the new Kinawataka sewerege pre-treatment plant.
Eng Ebal said that the new NWSC sanitation improvement master plan encompasses an ultra-modern sewerage treatment plant in Bugolobi, a sewerage pre-treatment plant in Kinawataka, a sewerage pumping station on Kibira road and 31km of sewer network.
Sharing plants specifications during a site visit of the newly completed Kinawataka pretreatment plant, Eng. Ebal said that the construction of a waste water treatment plant at Kinawataka is part NWSC’s efforts towards protecting the water quality in Inner Murchison bay of Lake Victoria by treating some of the untreated inflow of waste water that flows into the lake.
He added that the poor quality of raw water in the inner Murchison Bay, among other adverse effects, is increasing the cost of producing water at Ggaba water works.
“The new infrastructure will improve sanitation and health in around the city, protect Lake Victoria, produce briquettes from faecal matter, generate 630kw of power from biogas, among other benefits.” he said
NWSC Board Member, Faridah Mayanja Mpiima reiterated the corporation’s commitment towards improving sanitation and health in all its areas of operation in line with the NWSC Strategic plan.
Deputy Managing Director Technical services Eng. Johnson Amayo said that the modern environmentally treatment plant is noise and odour free.
“We assure our people in a Butabika that the plant will not smell or make noise for the neighborhood. We are implementing new smart engineering technology to enhance service delivery in Uganda,”” he said
Deputy Managing Director Board Affairs and corporation Secretary Miss Edith Kateete applauded the contractors for the good job.
“The project has been completed on time and within budget,” she said
Director projects and capital development, Eng. Paddy Twesigye said that chemical processes have been introduced in the treatment stages to help reduce algae and subsequently improve the quality of water on Lake Victoria.
Director Engineering services Eng Alex Gisagara said that the Kinawataka treatment plant has been designed with room for expansion.
He added that the 4.5million litres per day treatment capacity plant is designed to realize a mechanical pre-treatment of effluent.
He shared that with the near completion of the new Bugolobi waste water treatment plant, the corporation has more capacity to improve sanitation and health in the city
The bigger Picture
NWSC MD Dr.Eng Silver Mugisha said that the corporation is putting final touches on the largest sewage treatment plant in East and Central Africa at Wankoko-Bugolobi.
The plant will treat 45 million litres of waste water daily and generate over 630kw of electricity using biogas for use in the plant.
According to him, the plant will help to clean Kampala city by diverting and treating waste water from the heavily polluted Nakivubo channel before releasing water into the Lake Victoria.
“The foul smell at Wankoko Bugolobi will be no more. The new plant uses nuisance free technology and bio-filters and will not smell. It will serve the needs of 850,000 people,” he said
The new infrastructure will serve Naguru, Ntinda, Nakawa, Bugolobi, Kyambogo, Kiwanataka, Banda, Kasokoso, Butabika and neighbouring areas.
“This substantially extends piped sewerage services outside the Central Business District, Old Kampala, Kiseka Market area, Kololo, Nakasero etc,” he said
The project is being funded by government with support of African Development Bank, European Union and German funding through KfW.
The Bugolobi-Nakivubo sewerage plants comes four years after the commissioning of the Lubigi sewerage treatment plant in 2014. Lubigi plant serves Mulago Makerere, Wandegeya, Bwaise, Kalerwe, Lubigi Kawempe and the neighbouring areas.
Officials said plans were underway to construct a sewerage treatment plant in Nalukolongo and Kajjansi to serve the growing needs of Kampala city.
