Silver Mugisha

Silver Mugisha
Born (1968-09-14) September 14, 1968 (age 58)
Kantunda Village, Bushenyi District, Uganda
CitizenshipUganda
EducationMakerere University
(Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering)
(Doctor of Philosophy in Economics and Management)
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
(Master of Science in Sanitary Engineering)
OccupationsCivil engineer and corporate executive
Years active1994–present
TitleManaging director and CEO of National Water and Sewerage Corporation

Silver Mugisha, is a Ugandan civil engineer and corporate executive, who serves as the managing director and chief executive officer of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), since August 2013. Before that, he served as the chief manager responsible for Institutional Development and External Services at the NWSC.

Background and education

Mugisha was born in Kantunda Village, Bushenyi District, in the Western Region of Uganda, on 14 September 1968. His father, Federico Ngambagye and mother, Pascazia Baryomurwera Ngambagye, were both alive as of February 2015. After attending primary school locally he attended St. Joseph's Secondary School in the city of Mbarara for his O-Level education, and St. Leo's College, Kyegobe in Fort Portal for his A-Level studies.

He was admitted to Makerere University, Uganda's largest and oldest public university, on a scholarship from the Ugandan government. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree. He went on to obtain a Master of Science in Sanitary Engineering degree, from the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, in Delft, Netherlands. He then returned to Makerere where he was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics and Management.

Career

Mugisha joined NWSC in 1994. In 1997, he became one of the senior engineers at the company. In 2013, he was appointed as managing director and chief executive officer of the company. Over the more than 30 years he has been at the company, he has gained experience in water utility management, international water policy, water and sewerage research, and advisory services.

In an interview that he gave to ESI-Africa in 2016, Mugisha attributed his success and that of NWSC to several factors, including the prioritization of service, the customer and the welfare of the employee above profit.

Mugisha's tenure at the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) has been the subject of media reporting and public scrutiny over governance, procurement, recruitment and internal management issues. According to Uganda Radio Network, the Inspectorate of Government raised concerns about the recruitment process that led to Mugisha’s appointment as NWSC managing director in 2013, after receiving a complaint alleging irregularities. The Inspectorate recommended a fresh recruitment process, although it noted that its recommendations were not binding on the NWSC board.

In 2019, The Spy Uganda reported that a whistleblower petition had asked the State House Anti-Corruption Unit to investigate Mugisha and other NWSC officials over alleged abuse of office and financial management concerns. A 2020 report by The Capital Times said then Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga had questioned Mugisha over concerns about corruption and accountability at NWSC during a water and sanitation conference.

In December 2021, the Inspectorate of Government said it would reopen an investigation into the procurement of faulty NWSC prepaid water meters, which were reportedly valued at Shs17 billion. The Inspector General of Government, Beti Kamya, also said the matter would be reopened, amid whistleblower allegations linking the procurement dispute to claims of influence and internal promotions at NWSC.

In 2022, Daily Express reported that some NWSC employees had raised complaints in a dossier alleging unfair salary scales, preferential treatment and irregularities in appointments and promotions. Mugisha and NWSC rejected the claims, saying salary adjustments were based on performance appraisals and exceptional performance.

Another June 2025 report by Red Pepper said the Inspectorate of Government had called for action against Mugisha over corruption-related allegations at NWSC. Mugisha later rejected the allegations, saying NWSC remained open to accountability while dismissing the claims as distractions from the corporation’s work.

Other considerations

Mugisha has sat on the boards of several public and private enterprises. He is the current chairperson of the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board. He is the current chairperson of the Federation of Uganda Employers, elected in March 2021. His other responsibilities include as the first African vice president of the International Water Association (IWA). He is the former president of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) and the chairman of the governing council of Uganda Technical College, Bushenyi.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 UBTEB (11 July 2022). "Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha: Chairperson of the Board". Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB). Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  2. ↑ Ephraim Kasozi (3 March 2014). "Water body confirms Dr Mugisha as managing director". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  3. 1 2 Simon Kasyate (1 February 2015). "From a grass-thatched hut to the helm of National Water". The Observer (Uganda). Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. ↑ The Global Water Summit 2022 (11 July 2022). "Dr Silver Mugisha: Managing Director, NWSC: Biography". Watermeetsmoney.com. Retrieved 11 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ ESI-Africa (12 January 2016). "Exclusive interview with Engineer Silver Mugisha, MD of National Water and Sewerage Corporation". ESI-Africa. Cape Town, South Africa. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "IGG Advice Ignored In New Water MD Appointment". Uganda Radio Network. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Lt.Col. Nakalema's Anti-Corruption Taskforce To Probe NWSC Boss Dr. Mugisha". The Spy Uganda. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Kadaga Grills Dr.Mugisha Over Rampant Corruption In NWSC". The Capital Times. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "IGG To Reopen Probe Into Shs17B Faulty NWSC Metres". Inspectorate of Government. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  10. ↑ "IGG vows to reopen probe into 17BN NWSC Fake Water meter Scandal without fear or favor". Sabasaba Updates. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "EXPOSED: NWSC Boss Mugisha in 'hot soup' over corruption, unfair salary scale in bitter staff dossier". Daily Express. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "IGG Orders Firing of NWSC Boss Over Corruption". Red Pepper. 13 June 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "NWSC Boss Silver Mugisha Pushes Back Against Efforts 'to Drag NWSC Into Non-Productive Things'". The Pearl Times. 22 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  14. 1 2 CEO Magazine Uganda (25 March 2021). "NWSC's Silver Mugisha re-elected Federation of Uganda Employers Chairperson". CEO Magazine Uganda. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  15. ↑ Javira Ssebwami (11 December 2023). "Innovate homegrown solutions for a water-secure continent, NWSC boss Dr. Mugisha tells delegates at international water congress". PML Daily. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 11 December 2023.