KAMPALA FRIDAY 01 AUG 2025 – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has approved the establishment of a prepaid water meter manufacturing plant in Uganda. The move is aimed at improving water access, conservation, and utility efficiency in the country.
The President met with a delegation from Helcraw Electrical Pvt Ltd, a Zimbabwean company, which has partnered with Liaison Technologies, a Chinese firm specializing in prepaid water metering systems. Brendon Jere, the Director of Helcraw Electrical, led the delegation and presented the proposal for the local factory.
According to Jere, prepaid water meters allow consumers to pay only for the water they use, which promotes accountability, fairness, and conservation. He stated that this model has been successful in Zimbabwe, significantly improving water access and enabling utility companies to enhance revenue collection. Jere believes that Uganda will benefit even more from the initiative, especially with localized production.
President Museveni praised the project as being timely and in line with Uganda’s national goals of industrialization, job creation, and providing access to essential services. He noted that the project has the potential to improve livelihoods in both urban and rural areas by ensuring affordable and reliable access to clean water. To expedite the project, the President instructed Hon. Haruna Kasolo, the Minister of State for Microfinance, to collaborate with relevant authorities to provide the necessary licenses and land for the factory.
The new factory is expected to serve not only Uganda but the entire East African region, establishing the country as a regional hub for smart water management technologies. This development comes as Uganda works to boost its manufacturing capacity, local content, and service delivery in key sectors such as water and energy.
In the same meeting, President Museveni also endorsed a proposal from Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Pvt Ltd to create an integrated bulk water supply system for irrigation in the Teso region. The President highlighted the importance of irrigation for agricultural productivity and water availability, stating, “For me, irrigation is a top priority, and I shall support it”.