AFCON 2027 COUNTDOWN! NWSC Races to Quench Hoima as Water Project Hits 37%

HOIMA — The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Board has inspected key water supply projects in Hoima City as preparations gather pace for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with a major emergency water project now 37% complete.

The Board toured the ongoing Hoima Emergency Water Supply Project to assess progress on infrastructure expected to boost water production, storage and distribution as Uganda prepares to host the continental football showpiece.

The project, which is expected to be ready for commissioning by February 2027, is among the key interventions aimed at strengthening water supply in Hoima and supporting increased demand during the tournament.

At the heart of the project is a 2,000-cubic-metre-per-day water treatment plant at Rwoga, alongside an intake on River Kafu, a 2.9-kilometre raw water pipeline and a 300-cubic-metre storage and balancing reservoir.

The works also include a 22-kilometre treated water pipeline running from Kikuube to Hoima City, a major investment expected to improve the reliability of water services across the area.

During the inspection, the Board was informed that excavation and concrete blinding for the water treatment plant units had been completed, while excavation works at the intake site stood at 90%.

Steel reinforcement and concrete works at the treatment plant had reached 15%, pipeline surveys were complete, and power extension works stood at 50%.

The inspection comes as NWSC moves to secure water supply for key AFCON facilities, including the Hoima City Stadium, where an emergency water stabilisation intervention has already been completed.

Under the stadium water extension project, two boreholes at Mparo and Kyarwiru were developed and connected to the facility.

Mparo borehole has a production capacity of 25 cubic metres per hour, while Kyarwiru produces 15 cubic metres per hour. Both facilities have been commissioned to provide a reliable water source for the stadium as preparations for AFCON 2027 intensify.

Beyond the stadium and city supply network, NWSC is also preparing to extend water services to Kabalega International Airport, a strategic facility expected to handle increased activity during the continental tournament.

The proposed airport extension will involve upgrading the Kafu Water Treatment Plant from 2,000 to 3,000 cubic metres per day, laying a 36-kilometre DN200 uPVC/steel bulk transfer pipeline and constructing a 200-cubic-metre storage reservoir at the airport.

The planned expansion is intended to strengthen the water supply system serving the airport and support the growing infrastructure needs associated with Hoima’s development and AFCON 2027 preparations.

The Board’s visit provided an opportunity to assess the progress of the various infrastructure components and evaluate efforts to establish a more dependable water supply network for Hoima City.

With the emergency water project still under construction and the airport extension in the pipeline, NWSC’s interventions are expected to play a critical role in ensuring that essential facilities have adequate water as Uganda prepares for the 2027 tournament.