Africa-Press – Uganda. The completion of the long-awaited Katosi water project is behind schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Silver Mugisha, the executive director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, (NWSC), has said.
Mugisha said the sh713b project, which will avail water to parts of Kampala, such as Gayaza and Kawempe, was expected to be complete by February 15.
“The lockdown disrupted the movement of staff and airlifting of equipment, such as pipes, pumps and electricals,” Mugisha explained.
He made the remarks while addressing journalists during the inspection of Katosi water project in Mukono district on Monday.
Mugisha noted that workers were not fully deployed since most of the crucial panels that the contractor required had not yet been airlifted.
“I apologise to our customers, especially in the northeastern part of Kampala. People who have had challenges of water. I assure you that within the next one or two months, you should be able to get water,” he said.
The project is expected to add 160 million litres of water per day on top of the 240 million litres supplied per day.
Upon completion, the corporation will provide 400 million litres of water per day.
The demand for water in Kampala and surrounding areas is 300 million litres per day.
Eng. Alex Gisagara, the director engineering services NWSC, said: “We are doing final touches, including testing of the concrete for any linkages. Since the installations are in advanced stages, we will achieve the February 15 deadline.”
According to Gisagara, the project targets to supply water to over three million people.
