By Guest Writer
National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has called for stronger boardroom oversight of artificial intelligence, saying technology governance must move from IT departments into the heart of corporate leadership. The call was made on Wednesday, 30 July 2026 during the Africa Big Tech Accountability Summit held at Fairway Hotel, Kampala. The summit brought together legal, governance, and technology experts to discuss regulation, ethics, and responsible adoption of emerging technologies in Africa.
Representing NWSC, Ms. Brownie Ebal, Manager – Litigation and Legal Advisory Services, was a panelist in a special session titled “Boardroom Accountability in the Age of AI: Corporate Governance Responsibilities for African Businesses.” Ebal argued that AI should not be treated only as an IT matter, but integrated into enterprise risk governance.
She told delegates that boards must know where AI is being used, what decisions it informs, what data it depends on, and who it affects. “Boards should also understand the legal, operational, ethical and reputational risks that come with AI deployment,” Ebal said. She further urged organisations to put in place governance structures covering the entire AI lifecycle, from identifying a business need and procurement, to deployment, monitoring, modification, and eventual retirement.
Key safeguards she proposed include clear board accountability, cross-functional oversight, impact assessments, vendor due diligence, data-governance controls, human review, and continuous monitoring. Citing the King V Code on Corporate Governance for South Africa, Ebal noted that governing bodies have a responsibility to oversee data, information and technology in ways that support strategy and sustainable value creation.
NWSC’s participation comes as the Corporation prepares its own AI policy to guide adoption and use of the technology in the workplace. The Human Resources Department has already started training staff on practical applications of AI, its opportunities, and the need for responsible use.
“Effective AI adoption requires more than technology. It needs clear policies, staff competence, accountability and safeguards,” NWSC said in a statement. Discussions at the summit focused on how African organisations can balance innovation with legal compliance, ethical leadership, human accountability, and public trust.
For NWSC, which delivers water and sewerage services to millions, the push signals a commitment to strengthen institutional capacity and ensure new technologies improve service delivery without compromising governance or customer data.
“As digital transformation continues to shape the workplace, engagements like this help us build governance practices that allow us to benefit from AI while managing its risks responsibly,” Ebal concluded. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
