Browsing by Author "Kapta Bill"

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    Enhancing Facilities Management and Operations Maintenance of Water Production Facilities in Central Uganda.
    (Makerere University Business School, 2025-09-25) Kapta Bill
    This study identifies the facilities management and operational maintenance practices for enhancing water production facilities in Central Uganda. Good access to clean and safe water is a fundamental requirement of public health and socio-economic development, but the region has been struggling with well over half of its water production facilities poorly funded, poorly staffed with qualified technical experts, abandoned infrastructure, and unreliable electricity supply. This results in a re-active maintenance culture, constant equipment breaks down, and erratic water supply, compromising service reliability and quality. Based on Asset Management Theory and Sustainability Theory, this study examines current practices, suggests some barriers, and outlines improvements needed to enhance efficiency and sustainably responsible operation. This study adopted a quantitative research approach by collecting data using structured questionnaires from among 217 respondents such as facility managers, engineers, technical staff and maintenance personnel. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential with qualitative responses analyzed with thematic analysis. The report found out that, 67% of facilities are limited by funding allowing them to only reactive maintenance, with 70% of those surveyed stating funding is a key barrier. Moreover, 65% stated lack of skilled manpower and 60% experienced disruption from poor power supply. Only 20% of facilities utilize Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) to manage assets (3), and the absence of robust asset management systems drives even more inefficiencies in the process. This study suggests several approaches that can help overcome these challenges, such as predictive maintenance technologies, improving training programs, integrated asset management systems, and rural community engagement. It recommends the use of alternative energy sources in solar power and governance frameworks being strengthened to ensure that the reliability of the operations is more sustainable. ix This work adds to the literature through empirically-grounded evidence from a low resource setting, and a practical guide for water system managers and stakeholders on improving system performance. These results have important public health, economic, and environmental sustainability implications that support Uganda in reaching the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation.