Mbale, Uganda — The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has confirmed that the Mbale Water Supply and Sanitation Project has reached 97 percent physical completion, with the project now entering the testing and commissioning stage.The project is being implemented by the Government of Uganda through NWSC as part of efforts to improve water supply and sanitation services in Mbale and the surrounding towns.
The latest update was made after a two-day monitoring mission and monthly progress review carried out by teams responsible for supervising and implementing the project.The exercise brought together the project consultant, contractor and NWSC project and Area teams to assess the progress of the works and agree on the activities required before commissioning and handover.The teams inspected several important project facilities and infrastructure during the monitoring exercise to establish their level of completion.
The components inspected included the Namatala–Bungokho pipeline, Musola Reservoir, Bungokho Water Treatment Plant and Manafwa Water Treatment Plant.The assessment showed that most of the project components are now substantially complete, while several facilities have already reached full completion.The IUIU sewerage network has been completed at 100 percent, while the sewer rehabilitation works under the project have also reached full completion.The Busoba Reservoir has also achieved 100 percent completion, together with public sanitation facilities and distribution lines being developed under the project.The Namatala Water Treatment Plant is currently at 98 percent completion, leaving only a small number of activities to be completed before the facility proceeds to the commissioning stage.The Manafwa Water Treatment Plant, another major component of the project, stands at 93.3 percent completion.Although the plant is nearing completion, some works remain outstanding, particularly activities related to testing, finishing and resolving identified issues.The progress review indicated that the remaining works across the project largely involve finishing activities, equipment testing and closing snags identified during implementation.
At the Manafwa Water Treatment Plant, the outstanding works include testing of pipes and pumps, water-tightness tests and other minor finishing activities.These tests are expected to confirm that the infrastructure and equipment are functioning correctly and can operate according to the required technical standards.Before the final handover, NWSC and the other stakeholders have agreed to conduct a joint inspection of the completed facilities.The inspection will provide an opportunity for the project teams to verify the works, identify any remaining defects and ensure that outstanding issues are addressed.The beginning of testing and commissioning signals that the Mbale Water Supply and Sanitation Project is approaching the final stage of implementation.When fully commissioned, the project is expected to increase access to safe and dependable water services for people living in Mbale and surrounding towns.The sanitation component is also expected to improve through expanded sewerage networks, rehabilitation of existing sewer infrastructure and improved public sanitation facilities.The project is further expected to strengthen the city’s water and sanitation infrastructure as Mbale continues to experience population growth and development.With the overall project now at 97 percent physical completion, NWSC and its partners are concentrating on completing the remaining works, conducting tests and preparing the facilities for final inspection and handover.The completion of the project is expected to contribute to the Government of Uganda’s efforts to expand access to improved water and sanitation services in Mbale and neighbouring communities.
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