MADE IN UGANDA! NWSC Boss Woos Danish Giant Grundfos to Partner With NEC to Make Water Pumps Locally

GLASGOW, Scotland — National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Managing Director Dr Eng Silver Mugisha is courting Danish pump manufacturer Grundfos to partner with the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) to manufacture water pumps and spare parts in Uganda, in a move aimed at reducing import dependence and cutting maintenance costs.

Mugisha made the proposal during a series of meetings on the sidelines of the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress and Exhibition in Glasgow, Scotland, where he also sought cheaper financing from the World Bank and support from the Gates Foundation for NWSC’s research, sanitation and water supply initiatives.

Meeting Grundfos executives, Mugisha said NWSC imports spare parts for most of its pumps, a practice that often leaves the utility waiting for extended periods for supplies from abroad.

He argued that local production would ensure a steady supply of spare parts, reduce delays and potentially position Uganda as a regional manufacturing hub serving water utilities across Africa.

“For sustainability, if I work with you, I should be able to get your parts locally and not endure long waits to get parts from abroad,” Mugisha said. “With NEC producing these spares, we can have a network supplying Africa.”

He said NEC had the capacity to manufacture the components, adding that the proposed arrangement could benefit not only Ugandan water utilities but also other operators across the continent.

Mugisha asked Grundfos to establish a manufacturing arrangement with NEC to assemble pump parts locally, study NWSC’s hydraulic systems and design energy-efficient pumps suited to the utility’s needs and the wider East African market.

He also called for collaboration on technologies such as prepaid water meters tailored to the Ugandan market.

Beyond manufacturing, Mugisha said NWSC was embracing competence-based training and wanted to tap into Grundfos’s expertise in electromechanical engineering to strengthen the skills of Ugandan engineers.

He further asked the Danish firm to support the African Water and Sanitation Academy, operated under the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA), which promotes innovation, professional learning and capacity building among water and sanitation practitioners across Africa.

Grundfos officials said the company had previously collaborated with utilities, the IWA and AfWASA on learning initiatives and pledged to consider NWSC’s proposals.

They also outlined a financing model under which the company would recover its investment from savings generated through improved pump efficiency. The officials said Grundfos could develop intelligent pumping systems capable of automatically detecting faults, potentially helping utilities identify problems before they escalate.

The company pledged to work with NWSC to reduce energy consumption, operating costs and non-revenue water — treated water that is lost or supplied without generating revenue.

Meanwhile, Dr Rose Kaggwa, NWSC Senior Director of Business and Scientific Services, asked Grundfos to become the principal sponsor of the IWA Water and Development Congress and Exhibition scheduled to take place in Uganda in November 2027.

NWSC Board Chairman Prof Eng Dr Henry Alinaitwe pledged the board’s support for management as it pursues the proposed partnerships and other initiatives.

NWSC SEEKS CHEAPER WORLD BANK LOANS

In a separate engagement, Mugisha presented NWSC’s performance records, including audited financial reports, to World Bank officials as he made a case for long-term, low-cost financing to expand water and sanitation services.

He said the utility was working with local banks and the Ministry of Finance to secure affordable funding for infrastructure expansion, operational improvements, energy efficiency, sanitation promotion and efforts to reduce non-revenue water.

“The cost of financing is high, and the Government of Uganda is looking at low-cost financing and is doing away with expensive financing,” Mugisha said.

He urged the World Bank to ensure that any funding for water and sanitation infrastructure in Uganda gives NWSC sufficient flexibility to undertake its own engineering designs, implement community-based approaches and hire affordable contractors.

Mugisha said the approach would help the corporation extend access to clean and safe water while reducing waterborne diseases, shortening the distances people travel to collect water and lowering the cost of accessing the service.

“We want to give people more water, reduce water-borne diseases, reduce the distance for fetching water and reduce the cost of access to clean, safe water,” he said.

He added that the plan aligned with the government’s broader socio-economic transformation agenda.

Mugisha also noted that the government was mobilising domestic financing through mechanisms such as bonds and funding from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to support local development projects.

World Bank officials described NWSC as a well-performing utility and said the bank would assess the risks and consider supporting the corporation if it demonstrated the capacity to implement projects independently.

They said the bank works with local financial institutions across Africa and would consider channelling financing through Ugandan lenders.

The officials added that the bank supports government utilities through bonds and grants for projects focused on climate change, water supply and sanitation infrastructure. They said due diligence on Uganda would be the next step in assessing possible support.

NWSC Deputy Managing Director for Finance and Corporate Strategy Francis Owot said the corporation had the capacity to manage the funds in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders.

Owot urged the World Bank to work through local banks to lower financing costs and use its due diligence process to identify an appropriate financing mix for Uganda.

GATES FOUNDATION COURTED FOR RESEARCH, SANITATION

Mugisha also met officials from the Gates Foundation, where he sought support for NWSC’s research and development agenda, sanitation initiatives, the 50 Towns Water Supply Improvement Project and preparations for the 2027 IWA congress.

He said NWSC had strengthened its research and development department and wanted the foundation to support it as an innovation hub for addressing water and sanitation challenges in Uganda and across Africa.

Among the priorities he highlighted was sludge management at NWSC facilities, alongside broader efforts to improve sanitation services.

Mugisha said water demand was outstripping supply in some towns, making investments in reliable water systems increasingly important.

The 50 Towns Water Supply Improvement Project aims to strengthen water supply resilience in towns served by NWSC. He urged the foundation to support efforts to improve water access and on-site sanitation in the targeted communities.

He also asked the foundation to support the African Water and Sanitation Academy, which Uganda hosts, saying the institution could help develop solutions to persistent water and sanitation challenges across the continent.

Prof Alinaitwe reiterated the board’s commitment to the initiatives, noting that investment in NWSC’s research and development work could also benefit university students pursuing water and sanitation engineering by strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.

Gates Foundation officials pledged support for Uganda’s preparations for the IWA Water and Development Congress in November 2027.

They said the foundation was keen to make an impact in Africa and viewed utilities such as NWSC as important partners in delivering that ambition, describing the Ugandan corporation as a pace-setter in water and sanitation on the continent.

The engagements in Glasgow place NWSC’s priorities on three fronts: local manufacturing of critical equipment, access to affordable financing and stronger research and innovation to improve water supply and sanitation services.