As the highly anticipated 22nd African Water and Sanitation Association International Congress and Exhibition (AFWASA-ICE 2025) approaches, the focus intensifies on sustainable water management solutions. Scheduled to take place at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Kampala, Uganda, from February 16 to 20, 2025, the congress will bring together experts from across Africa and beyond under the theme “Water and Sanitation for All: A Secure Future for Africa.”
The congress will serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and strategic collaborations aimed at advancing Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6)—ensuring universal access to water and sanitation.
Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, Managing Director of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), highlighted the event’s significance, noting that it will also mark the inauguration of the African Water and Sanitation Academy (AFWASA) in Kampala. “This academy will enhance the capacity to deliver safe water and sanitation services across the continent,” Mugisha announced during the 94th AFWASA meeting held in September 2024.
The program will feature technical sessions, poster presentations, workshops, and a high-level symposium, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and practical solutions to water and sanitation challenges.
One of the key contributors to the congress is Waiswa Magumba, an NWSC staff member whose research on reducing non-revenue water (NRW) is gaining attention. Magumba’s poster presentation, titled “The Impact and Mitigating Strategies for Non-Revenue Water,” explores innovative solutions to combat water losses from leakage, unauthorized consumption, and meter inaccuracies.
In an interview, Magumba underscored the importance of addressing NRW, which currently averages between 37% and 46.2% in the Kampala Water zone, significantly exceeding the World Bank’s recommended benchmark of 25%.
He advocates for a comprehensive approach built on three pillars: infrastructure enhancement, demand-side management, and technological innovation. Central to his recommendations is the adoption of advanced metering infrastructure and smart metering systems to provide real-time data collection and analysis. These systems, Magumba argues, will enable utilities to detect anomalies, identify high-NRW zones, and streamline water usage monitoring.
“Regular maintenance and calibration of meters are critical for accuracy,” Magumba noted. He also emphasized the need for specialized teams to oversee the planning and execution of NRW-reduction strategies, ensuring effective implementation.
The congress, organized by the African Water and Sanitation Association (AFWASA), will gather representatives from over 40 countries, including 237 member organizations and utilities, to share insights and solutions for improving water and sanitation access across Africa.
With its emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, AFWASA-ICE 2025 promises to be a pivotal event in shaping a secure water future for the continent.
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