NWSC AND UIRI EXPLORE COLLABORATION IN LOCAL ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

The MD of NWSC Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha this morning paid a working visit to the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI).

Buy Uganda, Build Uganda
While on a guided tour of the Model Manufacturing and Machining Centre in Namanve, Dr. Silver said NWSC was interested in in-house and in-country innovation to provide Ugandan engineering solutions for service delivery. He said buy and build Uganda was one of the key undertakings in the NWSC Corporate Strategy 2021-2024.

Dr. Silver said there was need to change the mindset which says everything used in Uganda must be imported from outside the country.

Prototype prepaid meter
During the visit NWSC engineers were able to demonstrate a prototype of a prepaid water meter innovated and designed in-house by NWSC engineers and software developers.

The meter has passed proof of concept and is fit for purpose. What remains is final fine tuning and collaboration and partnership for in-country manufacture and assembly.

Dr. Silver said while prepaid meters will bring convenience to customers who need them and provide ease of revenue collection, the key priority of NWSC remains the provision of water to those who are not yet served. Most of the NWSC resources will go to extending access to water for all.

Import substitution
Welcoming the MD of NWSC and his team, the Executive Director of UIRI Prof. Charles Kwesiga said he was happy to engage and collaborate with the progressive and forwardlooking leadership of National Water.

Prof. Kwesiga said he shared the desire of National Water to build and make things in-country. He said this will lead to import substitution, save the country money and make it self sufficient.

The Model Manufacturing and Machining facility in Namanve is equipped state of the art equipment for precision machining, 3D printing, fabrication, welding, design and production of logic control circuit boards, materials engineering, manufacturing etc.

Inter-agency Collaboration
Dr. Dick Kamugasha the deputy ED of UIRI confirmed that there is enough capacity within the model facility for NWSC and UIRI to originate and implement local solutions whether it is replacements parts, new components or totally new solutions.

It was agreed that a team of NWSC and UIRI engineers should sit down, identify areas of collaboration, develop a work plan and move quickly to develop local in-country solutions for service delivery.

The meeting was also attended by GM-KW Mahmood Lutaaya. SM-PR Sam Apedel, Eng Gilbert Muhwezi, Eng Patrick Ssenyonjo.

Compiled by: Sarah Nabaasa