National Water’s Silver Mugisha bags gold at International Water Association awards

August 13, 2024 in Companies by Editor

“This is the highest order of service. It’s equivalent to an Olympic medal among the water and sanitation practitioners” – Jon Fisher Sekabira, Manager for Marketing and Digital Communications NWSC

 

Dr. Silver Mugisha, the managing director at water utility National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), is the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Water Management & Science award by the International Water Association (IWA).

Presented to him in Toronto, Canada this past Sunday, the award was the highlight of the International Water Association Congress and Exhibition 2024.

According to Jon Fisher Sekabira, the manager for marketing and digital communications at NWSC, the award, which is the highest order by an IWA member, was presented at the IWA President’s Dinner in recognition of Dr. Mugisha’s exceptional achievements in research, science, and water management on the global stage.

With over 30 years of industry leadership and expertise in organizational transformation and executive management, Dr. Mugisha has made significant contributions to the water sector globally. His work has focused on performance monitoring, incentive design, and productivity analysis, and he has supported organizational and performance improvement for various organizations worldwide, the citation read in part.

Dr. Mugisha is a renowned figure who has previously served as a Board Member and Vice President of the IWA, and currently holds the position of President of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA). He is also a Fellow of the International Water Association and Sense Research School of the Netherlands, and has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers and books on water management and science.

The IWA Awards honor outstanding contributions and achievements in water science and management, recognizing excellence, leadership, and innovation in the water sector and encouraging progress towards sustainable water management.

The awards are judged by a diverse panel of experts and are awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to research or practice that have led to demonstrable impact in low- and middle-income countries.

Previous winners of the IWA Awards include Dr. Veena Srinivasan, who received the 2023 Development Award for Research for her work at WELL Labs in India, and Dr. Doulaye Kone, who received the 2023 Development Award for Practice for his work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the USA.

Presenting the award for practice to Dr. Mugisha, the judges highlighted his instrumental role in transforming the NWSC into a model for water utilities globally, citing his expertise in organizational transformation and executive management as key factors in driving progress in the sector.

The judges further recognized Dr. Mugisha’s leadership in promoting best practices in water management and sanitation through his roles as President of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) and Fellow of the International Water Association.

The award, the most distinguished in IWA is awarded to the Water and Sanitation Galacticos, and was presented to him by the IWA President Tom Mollenkopf.