“Water is the source of life, and if the source dies, there is no life! Thank you for leaving your daily activities, as well as your respective families and for travelling long distances to come to the aid of Africa, which is facing a serious problem involving access to water and sanitation. You have made the right choice”.

These strong words were those of Mr. Sylvain Usher, Executive Director of AfWA, at the opening of the 79th meeting of the Association' Scientific and Technical Council (STC), which was held in Kampala, Uganda, from July 16 to 20. This meeting brought together about 200 delegates from across Africa and twenty-seven exhibitors.

The preparations for this STC meeting took place under special conditions. Indeed, the Société Nationale Des Eaux (SNDE) of Congo Brazzaville, which was to host the meeting was being fully restructured and therefore could not meet its commitment. To allow the meeting to be held, the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) volunteered to host the meeting just weeks ahead of schedule. This is why Mr. Usher thanked its Managing Director for "his great flexibility and his deep commitment to AfWA and to the development of the water sector in Africa". "Uganda is at the heart of AfWA's activities given the many meetings, capacity building sessions and other events that are held there. The proof lies in the fact that is this is the 3rd time a STC is taking place in Uganda, in addition to the Congress that was organized here in 2010 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of our association. And each time, the result has been most satisfying.” This success, the Executive Director of AfWA underlined, is due to the dynamism of Mr. Mugisha and his collaborators, a dynamism that transcends the borders of his country since the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, under the leadership of its Managing Director, is concerned with strengthening the capacities of water utilities in and outside Africa. "AfWA cannot but feel delighted and commend him". Before closing his remarks, Mr. Usher invited all participants to let themselves be guided by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) if we are to win the fight for access to water and sanitation, because this 21st century is guided by ICTs.