Water Utility Regulation Department

Water Utility and Regulation Department: Enhancing Urban Water Governance

Department Mandate

The Mandate of the Department is to provide a regulatory environment that facilitates efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in the provision of water supply and sanitation services. The legal framework for the operations of the Water Utilities Regulation
Department is in the functions of the Minister (meaning a Minister responsible for water or natural resources) as specified in Section 48 (3) of the Water Act Cap 152 – where the Minister enters into performance contract with gazzetted water supply and sanitation authorities

The Water Utility and Regulation Department (WURD), under the Directorate of Water Development in the Ministry of Water and Environment, plays a crucial role in the oversight and regulation of urban water supply and sanitation services in Uganda. Established in 2009 as a regulatory unit and later upgraded to department level, WURD ensures that piped water systems managed by authorities like NWSC, regional Umbrella Organizations, and local governments operate efficiently, affordably, and in line with national objectives. Its mandate, rooted in Cap 152 of the Water Act, includes placing regulation officers in regional facilities to strengthen performance monitoring. With the vision to be the best government regulator of water and sanitation services, WURD’s mission is to enforce regulation that ensures sustainable, reliable, and non-discriminative service delivery to all Ugandans. Driven by national priorities such as the Uganda National Development Plan II and Sustainable Development Goal 6, the department supports legal and institutional reforms to enhance service equity, efficiency, and quality. The need for effective regulation is especially critical in balancing commercial viability with social responsibility, particularly for vulnerable populations. WURD’s core functions include setting standards and performance indicators, reviewing business plans and tariffs, monitoring service delivery, managing sector competition, and protecting customer rights. Its work is guided by policies and instruments like the National Water Policy (1999), the Water Act, the Local Government Act, and the Companies Act. Additionally, tools such as performance contracts, tariff policies, pro-poor guidelines, and the Utility Performance Monitoring and Information System (UPMIS) form the regulatory backbone.