NWSC told to use bamboo for pipes

State minister for Water and Environment Flavia Munaaba (C) hands over a trophy and cash token to Mr Andrew Sekayizi the manager Kampala Water for improved performance of the branch during the PACE awards in Kampala. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE.

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NWSC managers were urged to borrow a leaf from China, which uses bamboo for water pipes

Kampala.
The ministry of Water and Environment has directed National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) to start using locally available materials to extend clean and safe water to parts that lack the services in the country.

Addressing the second quarterly NWSC managers’ Performance Accountability Contract Evaluation (PACE) meeting at the NWSC international resource centre on Thursday, Water and Environment State Minister Flavia Munaaba urged the NWSC managers to desist from using expensive imported materials like metallic pipes and boreholes for providing safe water to Ugandans but borrow a leaf from China, which uses bamboo for water pipes and valley dams to harvest rain water, which serves bigger populations.

“I am told constant use of steel pipes wears out the metal, which goes directly into our bodies. Why don’t you consider using bamboo like in China because it is biodegradable? You should also move away from expensive technologies like boreholes and start digging valley dams,” she said.

According to Dr Silver Mugisha, the NWSC managing director, the PACE contracts are part of NWSC’s five-year strategic plan, which requires the managers to publicly declare their three-month action plans for the services they will deliver to the public.

He explained that such contracts have largely been responsible for the corporation’s massive network expansion within the last one year, which saw the corporation expand its network coverage from 80Kms per year to 360Km last year alone and the increase in the number of new towns from 23 since the corporation’s inception in 1972, to 66 by last year.