By Mulengera Reporters
Dr. Silver Mugisha, the Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), has publicly defended his leadership and the corporation’s performance, pushing back against what he described as attempts to “drag NWSC into certain things.”
In a detailed statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Mugisha said he has worked at NWSC for about 32 years, during which the institution has largely pursued “administratively right” processes, despite acknowledged gaps.
He highlighted what he called significant growth under his 12-year tenure as team leader, citing expansion in the corporation’s asset base from UGX 600 billion to UGX 5 trillion. He also pointed to an increase in annual surplus from UGX 40 billion to UGX 162 billion, growth in the number of people served from 4.5 million to 20 million, expansion of water connections from 300,000 to 1 million, and a rise in pipeline infrastructure from 6,000 km to 24,000 km.
Mugisha also addressed personal integrity concerns, stating that he and his wife who is the Bushenyi District Woman Member of Parliament Annet Katusiime Mugisha (Hon. KAM), own modest properties that have been declared to the Inspectorate of Government. He added that previous NWSC leadership teams also owned properties, implying that such disclosures are consistent with institutional practice.
On operational strategy, he defended NWSC’s emphasis on cost efficiency, saying the corporation has prioritized “least cost capital investment options.” This includes reducing reliance on external IT systems in favor of in-house solutions, limiting engineering consultancies, and strengthening internal capacity.
He further noted the use of least-cost contractors and force-account mechanisms in project delivery. According to him, 12 projects—including works in Lyantonde, Bushenyi, Masindi, Kalungu, Sembabule, Kapeeka, Kapchorwa, Kisoro, Soroti, and Lira—were completed at a cost of about UGX 120 billion, compared to an estimated UGX 600 billion under traditional contracting models.
Mugisha alleged that recent criticism targeting NWSC leadership is driven by political maneuvering, particularly in Bushenyi. He thanked NRM veteran Hasan Basajjabalaba for efforts he said were aimed at promoting peace and reducing tensions. He also suggested that financial incentives may be motivating some of the criticism, though he did not provide specific evidence.
Despite the controversy, Mugisha reaffirmed NWSC’s commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that the corporation’s offices remain open for scrutiny. He said management is currently focused on improving customer experience and urged stakeholders to allow the institution space to concentrate on service delivery rather than being distracted by what he termed “non-productive things.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
