By Mulengera Reporters
After years of public outrage, unbearable stench, and growing environmental concern, the long-standing sewage crisis at Kiruddu has finally been brought to an end.
On 15th December, the Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, together with senior officials from the Ministry of Water, announced that the completion of the Kiruddu Water Treatment Plant has resolved major sewerage challenges and significantly improved water quality in the area.
The announcement was made in the presence of key government officials, including Permanent Secretary Dr. Alfred Okidi, Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, Eng. Gilbert Kimanzi, and others, who informed the public about the latest milestones achieved in Uganda’s water and sewerage sector.
Speaking during NBS Television’s SpotlightUG program, Dr. Mugisha used the prime national platform to outline NWSC’s achievements in service delivery. He explained that the completion of the Kiruddu facility had eliminated persistent sewerage failures and reaffirmed NWSC’s commitment to expanding access to clean and safe water across the country.
Dr. Mugisha noted that for years, residents of Makindye Division and patients at Kiruddu Referral Hospital had endured an overwhelming sewage stench that posed serious public health and environmental risks, but emphasized that the completion of the treatment plant marked the end of that difficult period.
The breakthrough follows a long and challenging journey. In 2021, NWSC had requested Shs4 billion to establish a sewerage system at Kiruddu Hospital after residents raised alarm over the worsening sewage situation. In response, the Ministry of Finance later released Shs3.5 billion, enabling the construction of a modern sewerage system aimed at resolving the long-standing sanitation crisis at Mulago’s satellite hospital.
Earlier, in 2020, the Buganda Kingdom, through the Buganda Land Board (BLB), had agreed to lease 2.5 acres of land to the government through Kampala Capital City Authority, creating space for the construction of the sewage treatment plant.
According to Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, the fully completed plant is expected to greatly improve wastewater management at Kiruddu Referral Hospital and surrounding communities, while also contributing to environmental conservation and protection.
The state-of-the-art treatment facility is capable of treating 150,000 liters of wastewater per day and utilizes advanced Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) technology, which allows efficient treatment while requiring minimal space.
The project was fully funded by the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Health, underscoring government commitment to strengthening sanitation infrastructure and safeguarding public health. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
