Sogea-Satom, a subsidiary of VINCI Construction, has secured a contract with Uganda’s National Water and Sewerage Corporation to renovate and expand the water supply network in the Kampala metropolitan area. The project also includes boosting the capacity of the Katosi water treatment plant.
Set to be completed by August 2027, the project will involve the work of approximately 500 personnel. Key tasks include installing 70 km of cast iron pipes, building large reinforced concrete reservoirs, constructing two new pumping stations, and refurbishing two existing stations. Due to the project’s location in densely populated urban areas, it will require the excavation of 3-meter-deep trenches and the rerouting of existing water systems. Financed by the French development agency AFD, the US $102M initiative aims to improve access to treated water for 1.5 million people in the region.
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Sogea-Satom has been operating in Uganda since 1990 and has previously built drinking water treatment plants in Ggaba, Katosi, and Karuma. The company is also working on the Kagera plant and plans to leverage the VINCI Group’s expertise in hydraulic infrastructure to further enhance the availability of drinking water in Uganda.
Uganda’s water supply
Uganda’s water supply faces significant challenges, with approximately 81% of the population lacking reliable access to safe water. This issue is exacerbated by factors such as rapid population growth, urbanization, and the increasing demand for water across various sectors. Additionally, poor sanitation and hygiene practices contribute to health risks, with diarrheal diseases remaining a leading cause of child mortality.
Despite these challenges, there have been positive developments in Uganda’s water sector. The government has set ambitious goals to provide universal access to safe water and improved sanitation by 2030.
