As the countdown begins for the 23rd African Water and Sanitation Association International Congress and Exhibition 2025 (AFWASA-ICE 2025), several participants have expressed interest in sharing their knowledge and expertise to create synergy around finding solutions to improve access to drinking water for people in Africa.
The congress, held under the theme “Water and Sanitation for All: A Secure Future for Africa,” will take place at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Kampala, Uganda, from February 16 to 20, 2025. The event aims to maximize opportunities for delegates to visit the exhibition, which will be a primary networking arena for congress partners and exhibitors.
Waiswa Magumba, a staff member at the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), is among the potential presenters under the Water Management track. His article, titled “The Impact and Mitigating Strategies for Non-Revenue Water,” will address the challenges of non-revenue water (NRW) and propose practical solutions.
In an interview, Magumba praised NWSC’s Managing Director, Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, for his innovative approaches to the utility sector. Magumba highlighted that the current rate of NRW in the Kampala Water zone averages between 37% and 46.2% as of May 2023, significantly higher than the World Bank’s recommended level of 25%.
Magumba emphasized the need to identify gaps and adopt practical, time-bound mitigating strategies to address NRW. He plans to advocate for a holistic approach focusing on three major pillars: infrastructure, demand-side management, and technological advancements.
Implementing advanced metering infrastructure and smart metering systems will allow for accurate measurement and monitoring of water consumption, Magumba believes. Real-time data collection and analysis will help identify consumption patterns, detect abnormalities, and locate areas with high NRW.
Magumba suggested that regular meter maintenance and calibration are necessary to ensure accurate readings. He also recommended that a specialized team oversee the assessment and planning phase, as well as the implementation stage.
Non-revenue water refers to water loss due to leakage, unauthorized consumption, and meter inaccuracies, leading to financial losses, inefficient resource utilization, and increased strain on water supply systems. The African Water and Sanitation Association (AFWASA) is a professional association of establishments, enterprises, and utilities operating in the areas of drinking water, sanitation, and the environment in Africa. AFWASA has over 237 members, with 100 of them being utilities from over 40 countries across the continent.
