NWSC launches a One Million Tree Planting Campaign
Pursuant to the overarching government policy on provision of safe water and sanitation, in 2013 the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), formulated a Five-Year Strategic Direction (2013-2018) that focuses on Infrastructure growth, increased water and sewerage services coverage, capacity development, and stake-holder management among other objectives. In 2016, the Strategic Direction was rolled over to 2016-2021 to align it with the Government Strategic framework.
In fulfilling the Strategic Direction objectives, the Corporation has implemented a number of infrastructure development initiatives in water and sewerage services. The geographical coverage of NWSC operations has increased from 23 towns in 2013 to 218 towns to date.
Besides major infrastructure development initiatives, the corporation is mindful of the need to protect and conserve the environment for sustainable provision of water and sewerage services. In this respect the Corporation is working together with the Young Water Professionals (YWPs) and a group of young vibrant men and women with a passion of water and sanitation and the environment working towards promoting catchment protection and environmental conservation.
The YWP Association aims at enabling young water, sanitation and environment professionals across the globe to come together, share their experiences and discuss the role of the youth in the governance and management of challenges relating to the water, sanitation and environmental sector in their country and region.
Today National Water and Sewerage Corporation through the Young Water Professionals is launching a one million tree planting campaign under the theme “PLANT A TREE, SAVE THE FUTURE”. The objective of the tree planting campaign is to encourage NWSC staff, the youth, school going children through the NWSC School Water and Sanitation and Sanitation clubs and the communities in which NWSC operates to collectively plant at least one million trees within one year as a means of promoting environmental conservation and catchment protection. Protecting the catchments provides a significant ‘natural’ barrier to contamination and yields high quality water.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker Of Parliament during her speech thanked NWSC for taking on the tree planting campaign as it is in line the nationwide tree planting campaign launched in April 2014 by the Government of Uganda. The speaker requested the Management and staff of NWSC to take the initiative to communicate monitoring the trees for sustainability purposes.
She called on other organisations to take up tree planting as a priority to manage the current climate change challenges.
The Managing Director of NWSC Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha noted that NWSC through the YWPs has been able to plant more than 15,000 trees both in Kampala and other service areas, and intends to continue with the tree planting exercise.
NWSC is in a phase of accelerated service delivery that has seen the organisation expand its service coverage from 2014 to 218 towns as at September 2017.
Having expanded its service footprint from 24 to 208 towns in the last four years, NWSC and Government of Uganda have rolled out of a project to connect water to 12,000 villages by 2020 within NWSC operational areas.
The national goal of Uganda’s water supply and sanitation sector to increase urban and rural access to water supply services for 77% and 65% respectively to 100% and 79% by 2020.
NWSC is committed to Water for All for Delighted Customers by a Delighted Work Force
“Our dear customers please enjoy the highlights of the 1 MILLION TREE Campaign Launch by the Young Water Professionals Uganda chapter. Click on the link below to watch speeches, activities of the day, and a statement from the YWP president.
Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga pledged to support National Water and Sewerage Corporation in its initiative to plant trees as part of the water utility’s campaign to preserve the environment ,” NWSC. Click on this link for more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WdcQKoR1M0&feature=youtu.be
