NWSC Steps Up Water Projects Ahead of Uganda’s 2027 AFCON Hosting

ENTEBBE – The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has briefed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on ongoing preparations to ensure reliable water supply to Hoima City, Masindi Town and Kabalega International Airport ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The update was presented by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who chairs Uganda’s National AFCON Task Force, during a meeting with President Museveni at State House, Entebbe, on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.

The meeting brought together NWSC Managing Director Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha and other officials involved in preparations for the continental football tournament, which Uganda will co-host with Kenya and Tanzania from June 16 to July 19, 2027.

It will be the first time that the AFCON tournament is hosted jointly by the three East African Community countries.

Nabbanja told the President that water supply works at Hoima City Stadium have been completed, while interventions aimed at stabilising water supply across Hoima City are currently at 32 per cent.

She said the water programme is being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment through NWSC and is intended to provide dedicated water supplies to stadiums and hospitality facilities while strengthening the water systems in host cities ahead of the expected increase in visitors during AFCON.

According to the Prime Minister, the programme has now moved beyond the planning stage into major civil works.

Hoima stadium water supply completed

One of the key achievements reported to the President is the completion and commissioning of an independent water supply system for Hoima City Stadium.

The stadium is supplied by two boreholes located at Mparo and Kyarwiru, which produce approximately 25 cubic metres and 15 cubic metres of water per hour respectively.

The two boreholes have been developed, connected to the stadium and commissioned, giving the facility a dedicated source of water independent of Hoima City's existing water network.

The stadium, which is among Uganda’s principal venues for the 2027 AFCON tournament, was officially launched in December 2025.

Hoima City network expansion

Beyond the stadium, NWSC is implementing a broader project intended to improve the reliability and capacity of Hoima City's water supply.

The works are designed to add approximately 2,000 cubic metres of treated water per day to the city's network.

The Hoima intervention is divided into two major components.

Component A includes construction of a 2,000-cubic-metre-per-day water treatment plant at Kafu-Rwoga, construction of a 2.9-kilometre raw water pipeline and installation of a 300-cubic-metre balancing reservoir.

Component B involves construction of a permanent water intake on River Kafu and laying of a 22-kilometre treated water transmission pipeline from Kikuube to Hoima City.

The progress report presented to President Museveni showed that excavation and concrete blinding for the treatment plant units had been completed, while surveys of the proposed pipeline routes had also been concluded.

Excavation works for the River Kafu intake were reported at 90 per cent completion, while power extension to the project sites stood at 50 per cent.

Steel reinforcement and concrete works for the treatment plant were at 15 per cent.

The next stages include ordering pumps for the Kafu treatment plant and commencing structural walling for the aerator, clarifier and filter units.

Kabalega Airport added to water supply plan

Although NWSC's original assignment focused on Hoima City Stadium and the wider Hoima City water network, the scope was subsequently expanded following a request from the AFCON Secretariat to include Kabalega International Airport and Masindi Town.

For Kabalega International Airport, NWSC proposes increasing the planned capacity of the Kafu treatment plant from 2,000 cubic metres to 3,000 cubic metres of treated water per day.

The plan also includes construction of a 36-kilometre bulk water transfer main with a nominal diameter of 200 millimetres and a 200-cubic-metre reservoir at the airport.

The airport, located in Hoima District, is still under construction and is expected to play an important role in supporting transport and logistics during the tournament.

In June 2026, the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority reported that the first phase of the airport project was 98 per cent complete, while the passenger terminal under the second phase was scheduled for completion in March 2027.

Nabbanja subsequently directed the Ministry of Works and Transport and the contractor to ensure that the airport is fully completed by December 2026.

Masindi water system also targeted

NWSC's AFCON preparations also extend to Masindi Town, where interventions are planned to improve water supply to the town and facilities expected to serve tournament visitors.

The proposed works include upgrading the Katam-Kyema water pipelines, installing electromechanical pumping equipment and extending water supply to Masindi Stadium and a designated hotel for the tournament.

The airport and Masindi water projects are both at five per cent progress.

Nabbanja told the President that pipeline surveys for the two projects had been completed and the works had been scoped. 

She said the airport water works are ready for procurement once the required funds are released.

UGX22.15 billion required

The Prime Minister put the total estimated cost of the water interventions at UGX22.15 billion.

Of this amount, UGX6.25 billion has so far been secured and is financing civil works under Component A of the Hoima project.

A further UGX15.9 billion has been requested from the AFCON Secretariat and the President to finance the outstanding works.

The additional funding will cover the airport water supply extension, expansion of the treatment plant, the Masindi water interventions and Component B of the Hoima project.

The release of the outstanding funds is therefore expected to determine the pace at which some of the additional works can move from preparation and procurement into construction.

Nabbanja said the water projects are scheduled for completion by February 2027, approximately four months before the tournament kicks off.

However, the progress report did not indicate whether the February completion target is conditional on the timely release of the outstanding UGX15.9 billion.

CAF inspection raises urgency

The briefing comes at a time when preparations for the continental tournament are facing increased scrutiny from the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe has in recent days begun an inspection tour of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania to assess the hosts' readiness for the 2027 tournament.

While speaking in Tanzania, Motsepe noted that the three host countries had about nine months remaining before the competition and called for preparations to be accelerated.

The water supply projects are consequently part of a wider national infrastructure programme aimed at ensuring that Uganda's host cities and tournament facilities have the necessary services to support teams, officials, supporters and other visitors.

For Hoima in particular, the interventions are expected to serve both the immediate requirements of AFCON and the city's longer-term water needs by expanding treatment capacity and strengthening transmission infrastructure.

With Hoima Stadium already having an independent water source and broader city works progressing, attention is now shifting to completing the remaining treatment, transmission and distribution infrastructure, while securing funding for the airport and Masindi components.

The government is expected to continue monitoring the projects through the National AFCON Task Force as Uganda prepares to host the continental tournament alongside Kenya and Tanzania in 2027.