The Government of Uganda, through the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), has unveiled a Shs14.24 billion water supply project for Hoima City aimed at improving water access and supporting preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Speaking during a media briefing at NWSC headquarters in Nakasero on Tuesday, Managing Director Eng Silver Mugisha said the project forms part of government's broader investment in critical infrastructure ahead of the continental football tournament and to support the continued growth of the Albertine region as Uganda's emerging oil and gas hub.
Hoima is among the Ugandan cities selected to host Afcon 2027 matches, alongside Kampala and Lira, when Uganda co-hosts the tournament with Kenya and Tanzania between June and July 2027.
Eng Mugisha said the project, dubbed Hoima 2 Water Supply System, will abstract raw water from River Kafu in Kikuube District before treating and transmitting it to Hoima City through a bulk water transfer network.
The project includes construction of a conventional water treatment plant with a production capacity of 2,000 cubic metres per day, approximately 25 kilometres of transmission and distribution pipelines, a 300-cubic-metre elevated steel reservoir at Musaijamukulu Hill, and associated pumping, electrical and storage infrastructure.
According to Dr Mugisha, the project is intended to supplement the existing Hoima 1 Water Supply System, which has served the city for years but is increasingly struggling to meet demand due to rapid urbanisation, population growth and expanding 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 growing supply gap in the short to medium term.
He revealed that government and NWSC are also finalising designs for the proposed Hoima 3 Water Supply System, a larger long-term project expected to significantly expand water production, transmission and storage capacity in the city.
The two systems, he said, will eventually be integrated into a single network to enhance efficiency, reliability 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," Dr. Mugisha 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 Hoima 2 project is jointly funded by the Government of Uganda and NWSC and is expected to be completed within eight months.
Construction works have been awarded to Zhonghao Overseas Construction Engineering Company Limited. Mugisha challenged the contractor to complete the project on schedule and within budget, warning that delays would not be tolerated.
"Time delays will not be acceptable," he said.
The contractor was represented at the briefing by Managing Director Ma Yongqian and Deputy Managing Director Wang Feifei, who committed to delivering the project within the agreed timelines while maintaining quality standards.
The company also pledged to comply with local content requirements by employing local labour during construction, a move expected to create income opportunities for residents and support economic activity in the region.
Upon completion, the project is expected to improve the reliability and quality of water supply in Hoima City, reduce water shortages, support urban growth and industrialisation, and strengthen the region's readiness for Afcon 2027.
