By Kikomeko Pius
On 8th August 2025, a team from the project to advance Occupational Safety, Health, and Environment (OSHE) knowledge and skills in Uganda visited the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) Ggaba water plant. This marked the project’s third industry stakeholder engagement, aimed at fostering a robust safety culture across Uganda’s key sectors.
The project is a prestigious collaboration between Makerere University, Busitema University, and Kyambogo University, with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK. The delegation was led by Dr. Abubaker Matovu Waswa, the Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT).
The OSHE project team was warmly received by the NWSC team, including the Plant Operations Manager, Mr. Thomas Mukwana, and the Principal Human Resource Officer. The NWSC representatives acknowledged the inherent risks in their work environment and detailed their comprehensive approach to mitigating them.
Key initiatives already in place at the Ggaba plant include:
- An active OSHE committee made up of representatives from various departments, allowing employees to easily report health and safety concerns.
- An internal OSHE audit team, headed by the Human Resource officer, which conducts quarterly internal audits that have already led to noticeable improvements in workplace safety.
- Daily “toolbox talks” at the beginning of each new shift to review safety practices and discuss any risks observed.
- A penalty card system to ensure staff correctly wear their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times.
- A comprehensive OSHE manual which they follow to formulate a customized safety policy for the plant.
The OSHE project team commended NWSC for the important measures already in place. Building on this strong foundation, Dr. Abubaker Matovu Waswa and his team offered several expert recommendations to further enhance their safety framework:
- Make Safety a Core Value: This involves embedding health and safety into the DNA of all operations, supported by a dedicated safety budget and the employment of a full-time safety officer with a dedicated office.
- Enhance Safety Audits: The team suggested increasing the frequency of internal audits and incorporating periodic external audits to gain a valuable, objective perspective on their operations.
- Integrate “Safety Moments”: A simple yet effective practice of starting every meeting with a brief “safety moment,” where a volunteer shares a safety tip or a personal health and safety experience.
- Extend Safety Beyond the Workplace: Reminding staff that safety consciousness is a 24/7 commitment, encouraging them to apply the same discipline in their homes and communities.
Following the productive discussion, the OSHE project team was taken on an insightful tour of the Ggaba 1, Ggaba 2 and Ggaba 3 water plants. The tour covered the water pumps, the chemical room and other critical operational areas, during which the OSHE project team conducted a brief safety audit checklist.
The visit concluded on a high note with the OSHE project team expressing appreciation for NWSC’s openness and willingness to learn and improve where they fall short in regards to Occupational Safety, Health and Environment. This engagement exemplifies the project’s mission to bridge the gap between academia and industry by disseminating vital knowledge on Occupational Safety, Health and Environment.
This collaboration is another significant step forward in building a safer and healthier working environment for all Ugandans.