NWSC’s Silver Mugisha Hits Back at Critics, Defends Record Amid Water Shortages and Allegations

The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Managing Director, Dr. Silver Mugisha, has mounted a spirited defense of his 32-year tenure at the utility, releasing a series of performance figures and policy justifications as Kampala suburbs grapple with water shortages and social media users level personal accusations against him.

The statement comes against a backdrop of public frustration following delays at the Katosi Water Treatment Plant. Maintenance work finished later than planned after heavy rain slowed pipe repairs and concrete work, leaving areas including Ntinda, Kisaasi, Namugongo, and even Entebbe without running water for days, according to a summary of posts on X.

Performance Claims and Cost Savings

In a thread posted to X on Friday, Dr. Mugisha highlighted what he described as substantial growth under his leadership over the past 12 years:

· Assets under management (AUM) increased from UGX 600 billion to UGX 5,000 billion
· Surplus grew from UGX 40 billion to UGX 162 billion
· People served rose from 4.5 million to 20 million
· Water connections expanded from 300,000 to 1 million
· Pipe length extended from 6,000 km to 24,000 km

“With 32 years of working at NWSC, largely in senior positions, I and my wife (Hon KAM) own modest properties that have been duly declared to IGG,” he wrote, adding that his predecessors also own certain properties.

Dr. Mugisha also defended what he called a “policy of least cost capital investment options,” including eliminating the purchase of IT solutions in favor of self-created in-house systems and reducing engineering consultancies by using internal capacity.

He claimed that on 12 projects — Lyantonde, Bushenyi, Masindi, Kalungu, Sembabule, Kapeeka, Kapchorwa, Kisoro, Soroti, and Lira — the corporation spent 120 billion shillings compared to an estimated 600 billion shillings using traditional methods.

Political Maneuvering Allegations

The NWSC chief suggested that efforts to drag the corporation into controversy are rooted in “political maneuvering in Bushyiri.” He thanked “NPM Chairman Hasan Basajjabalaba that has been working hard to bring peace,” while also alleging “an element of need to monetary incentives.”

“We assure the public that our offices remain open for accountability,” Dr. Mugisha wrote. “We are currently focusing on creating improved customer experiences. We only request to be given space to reflect on serving Ugandans rather than trying to divert us to non-productive ‘things’.”

Personal Allegations Surface

However, social media users were quick to challenge the MD. One user, Tabz ❤️, responded with pointed questions:

· “Is your new hotel at St. Kagwa Bushenyi not in a wetland?”
· “Did you not receive the @nemaug warning about that development and you ignored it?”
· “What does your son, also Silver do?”

Dr. Mugisha had earlier noted that he and his wife own “modest properties” that have been declared to the Inspector General of Government (IGG), but did not address the wetland or family member questions directly.

Dr. Mugisha’s thread concluded with a call to focus on customer service rather than what he termed diversionary tactics. As of Friday evening, the NWSC had not issued additional technical details about remaining pressure issues in affected Kampala suburbs, nor responded directly to the wetland and family employment questions raised online.