Uganda Launches Shs14.2bn Hoima Water Upgrade Ahead of AFCON 2027

By Aritha Ariho 

 

KAMPALA, Uganda,Uganda’s government, through the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, has rolled out a Shs14.24 billion water expansion for Hoima City to ramp up supply before the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

 

NWSC Managing Director Dr. Mugisha unveiled the plan on Tuesday at the corporation’s Nakasero headquarters. He said the project is part of targeted infrastructure spending to prepare for the tournament and to sustain growth in the Albertine Region, Uganda’s emerging oil and gas hub.

 

Hoima will host AFCON matches alongside Kampala and Lira when Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania jointly stage the tournament from June to July 2027.

 

The new system, called Hoima 2, will source raw water from the River Kafu in Kikuube District, process it at a new conventional treatment plant, and move it into Hoima via a bulk transfer network. Key components include a plant capable of producing 2,000 cubic meters of treated water per day, roughly 25 kilometers of transmission and distribution mains, and a 300-cubic-meter steel elevated tank at Musaijamukulu Hill, plus pumps, electrical works, and storage facilities.

 

According to Dr. Mugisha, Hoima 2 is designed to support the existing Hoima 1 network, which is now stretched by fast urban growth, population rise, and industrial demand tied to oil and gas activity.

 

“The current setup cannot fully meet Hoima City’s water needs and those of surrounding areas,” he said, describing Hoima 2 as a critical short- to medium-term fix for the supply shortfall.

 

He added that designs are nearing completion for Hoima 3, a longer-term system that would greatly increase production, transmission, and storage. Once built, Hoima 2 and Hoima 3 would merge into a single, more efficient and resilient network.

 

“NWSC is therefore asking government to release funding for Hoima 3 as soon as designs are done,” Dr. Mugisha said. “Investing in Hoima 3 on time will secure Hoima’s water supply for the long haul and back Uganda’s wider economic transformation.”

The Shs14.2bn project is co-funded by government and NWSC and is slated for completion in eight months.

 

Construction is being handled by Zhonghao Overseas Construction Engineering Company Limited. Dr. Mugisha told the contractor to stick to schedule and budget, stressing that delays won’t be tolerated.

“No delays will be accepted,” he warned.

Zhonghao was represented at the briefing by Managing Director Ma Yongqian and Deputy Managing Director Wang Feifei. The company pledged to deliver on time and within cost while upholding quality, and said it would prioritize local hiring to support Hoima communities.

 

Dr. Mugisha said the upgrade will make Hoima’s water supply more reliable and cleaner, ease shortages in parts of the city, support urban and industrial expansion, and boost the region’s preparedness for AFCON 2027.