Government unveils Shs14.24 billion Hoima water project ahead of AFCON 2027
The Government of Uganda, through the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), has unveiled a Shs14.24 billion water project for Hoima City, aimed at boosting supply ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
NWSC Managing Director Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha announced the project on Tuesday during a media briefing at the corporation's headquarters in Nakasero. He said it forms part of government's strategic investment in critical infrastructure ahead of the tournament, and is also intended to support the continued growth of the Albertine Region as Uganda's oil and gas hub.
Hoima is among the Ugandan cities selected to host tournament matches, alongside Kampala and Lira, as the country co-hosts the continental showpiece with Kenya and Tanzania from June to July 2027.
Designated Hoima 2, the project will draw raw water from the River Kafu in Kikuube District, treat it at a new conventional water treatment plant, and transmit it to Hoima City through a bulk water transfer system, Dr. Mugisha said.
It will deliver a treatment plant with capacity to produce 2,000 cubic meters of water daily, about 25 kilometers of transmission and distribution pipelines, and a 300-cubic-meter elevated steel reservoir at Musaijamukulu Hill, along with associated pumping, electrical, and storage infrastructure.
Dr. Mugisha said Hoima 2 is meant to augment the existing Hoima 1 system, which has served the city for years but can no longer meet demand amid rapid urbanization, population growth, and rising industrial activity linked to the oil and gas sector.
"The current system is no longer sufficient to adequately meet the water needs of Hoima City and its surrounding areas," he said, describing Hoima 2 as an urgent intervention to bridge the supply gap in the short to medium term.
Dr. Mugisha said government and NWSC are also finalizing designs for a longer-term Hoima 3 Water Supply System, which would substantially expand water production, transmission, and storage capacity. He said Hoima 2 and Hoima 3 would eventually be integrated into a unified network for greater efficiency and resilience.
"NWSC, therefore, appeals to government to make available the required funding for implementation of the Hoima 3 Water Supply System immediately upon completion of the designs," he said. "Timely investment in Hoima 3 will secure the long-term water future of Hoima City and support Uganda's broader economic transformation agenda."
The project is jointly funded by the Government of Uganda and NWSC and is expected to take eight months to complete.
The works are being carried out by Zhonghao Overseas Construction Engineering Company Limited, represented at the briefing by Managing Director Ma Yongqian and Deputy Managing Director Wang Feifei.
Dr. Mugisha tasked the contractor with delivering the project on time and within budget, warning that delays would not be tolerated. "Time delays will not be acceptable," he said.
The contractor committed to delivering the project within cost and time, and pledged to maintain quality standards throughout construction. The firm also said it would collaborate closely with local content requirements, including mobilizing local manpower during implementation to support the economic wellbeing of communities in Hoima.
