In 1986, Uganda was only 60MW of electricity generated from Owen falls Dam built by colonialists in 1954 of which 30Mw was exported to Kenya because there was a contract to do so and a breach would have become costly. NRM then identified electricity as a core requirement for speedy economy recovery. Rural electrification was at 0% in 1986 with even major towns without electricity. Now rural electrification is at 40% and govt is having a target of having 4386MW by 2030.
The following projects have been worked on by NRM govt
1. Owen falls Dam now called Nalubale Dam was upgraded from 60MW to 200MW commissioned in 2007
2. Kiira power station was also created as an extension of Nalubale Dam with total capacity of 200MW commisinoned in 2007
3. Bujagali power station at Bujagali falls constructed between 2007 to 2012 with a capacity for 250MW
4. Isimba power station in Kamuli District commissioned in 2018 with a capacity of 183.2MW.
5. Karuma power station to be commissioned in December 2020 with 600Mw capacity.
NRM govt also worked on small power generation plants. Uganda had only one small plant Mubuku power station at river mubuku in kasese District at a capacity of 5MW constructed by colonialists as a reason for copper mining in 1950s. But from 2008, small power projects were constructed as follows
1. Bugoya power station at R.Mubuku at capacity of 13MW
2. Kabalega power station R. Wambabya at a capacity of 9.0MW
3. Kanungu power station at R. Ishasha at 6.6MW
4. Mpanga power station at R. Mpanga in kamwenge District at 18MW
5. Mubuku II power station at River Mubuku 10MW
6. Nyagak power station at R. Nyagak in Zombo District 3.5MW
7.Kisizi power station at R. Kisizi in Rukungiri at 0.3MW
8. Gweza Luzira power station in Moyo District at R. Amoa 0.5MW.
In my next post I will post about projects that are in pipeline. Is your area having electricity? If not mention the area I check for you whether it’s on the list of those to get electricity soon.
