The Rural Electrification Agency has been in existence for the last seventeen (17) years, during which time several achievements have been made in ensuring that Ugandans have access to electricity for socio – economic transformation. In pursuing its mandate, the Agency has boosted the power supply quality through system improvement, facilitated the development of local industries including tourism through deliberate provision of electricity to productive activities and areas with high economic growth potential, built local technical capacity and facilitated local industries for the electricity subsector, supported public-private participation in electrification and contributed towards a resilient environment and societies.
To date, the Agency has realized the construction of about 15,000km of Medium Voltage (MV) power lines and over 13,000 km of Low Voltage (LV) distribution power lines. This has greatly contributed to the connections of over 1,000,000 customers onto the national grid and an increment in the rural electrification access rate from 1% in 2001 to over 20% in 2020. Grid extension to the remaining two on land district headquarters, that is Kotido and Kaboong, is in the final stages of implementation while the island of Buvuma District is awaiting funding in the next financial year. Furthermore, there has been implementation of 52 off grid energy projects in the different service territories which has ensured so many unreachable villages get electricity.
In addition, about 6,000km of MV power lines and 5,000km of LV power lines are under implementation while 1,500 km of MV power lines and 2,000km of LV power lines are under procurement.
The Project for “Bridging the Demand Supply Balance Gap Through the Accelerated Rural Electrification Program”, that is electrification of all administrative headquarters including sub – county headquarters, town councils and division headquarters commenced, with contractor mobilization to site, survey and construction. Under the project, over 4,000km of medium voltage networks and over 6,000km of low voltage network shall be constructed, electrifying 620 administrative centers (558 sub – county headquarters, 10 Divisional and 52 unserved Town Council headquarters countrywide. Currently, implementation is on-going in the 22 districts forming the first phase. Technical commissioning has already taken place on some of the schemes in Kiboga, Kumi, Kapchorwa and Kyegegwa.
The Agency has also implemented the Electricity Connection Policy (ECP) that was approved by cabinet and re-launched on 3rd March 2021 following an almost twlves months break due to financial challenges. Under this policy, Government subsidizes the cost of connection materials, enabling citizens that are ready for electricity consumption to access free connection materials. Over 300,000 connections are targeted annually.
Alongside these projects, the Agency has implemented grid intensification and densification projects aimed at connecting areas with suppressed demand within the existing national grid footprint. This project targets the connection of underserved load centers and load centers within a 2km footprint of the existing grid, through transformer injections, expansion of the low voltage reticulation network and short expansions of the medium voltage network, majorly targeting highly populated areas such as municipalities, divisions and busy trading centers countrywide.
More still, REA has facilitated the evacuation of various small hydropower plants countrywide, including about 14 projects implemented through the GET FiT program.
REA set out to implement specific schemes as part of the NRM manifesto 2016-2021. Over 70% of these projects have been completed, with the remaining currently under construction and shall be due for completion by the end of 2020. There are also other projects being implemented or planned with firm funding that came after the NRM Manifesto was compiled.
Furthermore, European Union provided a Grant to finance part of the cost on the solar power generation plants for 25 mini-grids in Lamwo district in Northern Uganda. The project aims to increase rural electrification access through the implementation of Solar PV mini-grids in rural areas of Uganda. The project is implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with support from GIZ – the German federal enterprise in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. EU also provided a Grant to finance the solar power generation plants for 6 mini-grids in Kasese and Rubirizi districts in Western Uganda. The project is implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with support from World Wide Fund for Nature Uganda Country Office (WWF-UCO).
The Agency has also gone ahead to develop and install a GIS based Electronic Database and Information Management System(EDIMS) which was launched by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development in January 2020. The system enhances monitoring, validation and reporting of connections and the carbon finance programs to enable decision making by relevant stakeholders in service provision. The system also enables users and stakeholders obtain real time data on consumer connections.
STATUS OF GRID EXTENSION PROJECTS
- Small to Medium scale power networks in various districts of Uganda under Community and Government of Uganda Cost Sharing model funded by KFW and the World Bank(Intensification and Densification model). These projects implemented within fourteen (14) districts, were at a cost of Shs 5,195,848,543.5. The districts include Mpigi, Mukono, Kabarole, Bushenyi, Wakiso, Gulu, Arua, Luuka, Nakasongola, Rukungiri, Butambala, Kibaale, Sembabule and Luwero.
All the schemes were commissioned in November, 2017 and handed over to different Network operators including; UMEME, UEDCL and WENRECO for maintenance and operation.
- RE Schemes implemented with World Bank funding under ERT II at a cost of USD 4,550,839.15 covers the four districts of Nwoya, Hoima, Isingiro and Ntungamo.
All the schemes were commissioned in October 2016 and handed over to the respective Network operators for maintenance and operation.
- RE Schemes implemented under the French Funding (AFD) through a loan worth 42.9million Euros, and a grant from the infrastructure Trust Fund (ITF) from the European Union worth 8.3 million Euros and and the contribution from GoU worth 8.3 million Euros. The works covered twenty-four (24) districts divided into five (5) lots, depending on the service territories. The districts include; Kiryandongo, Hoima, Kibaale, Masindi, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, Isingiro, Lwengo, Rakai, Masaka, Bukomansimbi, Lyantonde, Sembabule, Kiruhura, Kyegegwa, Kasese, Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Rubirizi, Buhweju, Mitooma, Bushenyi and Sheema.
Construction works under the original scope of works were completed early 2018 and commissioned. However, the EPC contracts were amended to cover additional works within the project areas.
- RE Schemes implemented using Islamic Development Bank funding are under three phases including; IDB I covering seven (7) districts, twenty-two (22) districts, IDB II covering 22 districts and IDB III covering fourty seven (47) districts.
The IDB I district include; Amudat, Napak, Moroto (including the cement factory), Kotido, Kaboogo, Abim&Nakapiripirit. This project was financed through a loan obtained from Islamic Development Bank (IDB) worth USD 18.81million. Of this amount, US$ 15.61 million shall be funded by IDB and US$ 3.2 million shall be funded by GoU. The grid extensions on this project were divided into two lots;
The 33kV line from Moroto-Nakapiripirit, Moroto-Moroto cement factory and Moroto-Katikekile (156.5km of MV, 17.65km of LV, 18 transformers and 700 initial connections) with Additional schemes in Amudat and Nakapiripirit (46.9km HV, 18.34km LV, 23 transformers and 230 initial connections).
While the 33kV line from Moroto-Kotido-Kabong, Kotido-Abim with tee-off to Kacheri (391km of MV, 76.05km of LV, 47 transformers and 1,312 initial connections) with Additional schemes in Namakora-Karenga-Kidepo (115km MV, 27.95km LV, 17 transformers and 170 initial connections
- The IDB II districts include; Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Mbarara, Ibanda, Mitooma, Rubirizi, Ntungamo, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo, Kabarole, Agago, Kitgum, Pader, Apac, Soroti, Katakwi, Dokolo, Lira, Kole and Tororo. These works are implemented through two EPC contracts. overall progress to-date is about 85% completion. Commisioning is expected in October, 2020. This project was financed through a loan obtained from Islamic Development Bank (IDB) worth USD 62 million. The grid extensions on this project were divided into two including; The 33 kV sub-transmission lines from the existing 132 kV Opuyo – MorotoTransmission Line: 33 kV Overhead lines totalling to 465.06 km line; Low Voltage Overhead lines totalling 338.19 km; 211 33/0.4 kV Distribution Substations; and 5400 Last Mile Customer Connections.
While the other Lot is the 33 kV sub-transmission lines fromthe proposed 132 kV Mirama – Kabale Transmission Line totalling to 531.08km; Low Voltage Overhead lines totaling 584.54km; 377 33/0.4 kV Distribution Substations; and 14,250 Last Mile Customer Connections.
- The IDB III districts include; Nakaseke, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Luwero, Wakiso, Mpigi, Gomba, Lwengo, Bukomansimbi, Mityana, Buikwe, Mukono, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, Kiruhura, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Hoima, Kibaale, Kabale, Kisoro, Kasese, Bundibugyo, Sheema, Masindi, Mayuge, Namayingo, Bugiri, Kween, Kapchorwa, Kumi, Ngora, Bukedea, Serere, Sironko, Pallisa, Kibuku, Manafa, Budaka, Amolatar, Alebtong, Lira, Nebbi, Lamwo, Kitgum, Oyam and Moyo.
This project was financed through a loan obtained from IDB worth USD 70.73 million. Of this amount, USD 70.73 million is funded by IDB and US$ 6.80 million is funded by GoU. The grid extensions on this project were divided into six lots and thus implemented as six contracts. Currently, all the works are currently on-going with the overall progress of over 95% completion.
- RE Schemes implemented under BADEA / OFID II Funding. Covers seven (7) districts of Kamuli, Buyende, Kayunga, Jinja, Iganga, Mukono and Buikwe.
This project was financed through a loan obtained from BADEA/OFID worth USD 33 million. Of this amount, USD 15 million is funded by BADEA, USD 15 million is funded by OFID and USD 3 million is funded by GoU. The grid extensions on this project were divided into four lots.
The original scope of works has been completed and commissioned. The schemes have been handed over to the respective Network operators for operation and maintenance.
However, the contracts were amended to implement additiobnal scope within the project areas. These works have also been completed and commissioned.
- RE Schemes packaged under World Bank Funding – ERT III. Cover the thirty (30) districts of Arua, Yumbe, Moyo, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Mubende, Gomba, Butambala, Mukono, Jinja, Butaleja, Mbale, Bududa, Busia, Iganga, Namutumba, Kamwenge, Ibanda, Kibaale, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, Ntoroko, Kole, Alebtong, Otuke, Kaberamaido, Dokolo, Agago, Soroti and Amuria.
This project is financed through a loan obtained from WORLD BANK/IDA worth USD 99.2 million. Of this amount, USD 15 million is funding by WORLD BANK / IDA and USD 19.2 million is by GoU. The lines are packaged under two catergories as follows;
- Fast Track- Four lines
The contractors for works are on ground and implementation of works is at 30%. Completion of works is expected by end of December, 2020.
- b) 5 packages (A, B, C, D & E) – 17 lines
Package B, C, D &E totalling to eleven (11) lines were approved by the funder and they are still under procurement. Contract signature is expected by end of June,2020. Package A consisting of 6 lines is under preparation for procurement under GoU funding.
- RE Schemes implemented under the Uganda RuralElectricity Access project (UREAP) is through a loan from the African Development Bank Funding (AfDB) worth USD 100million and a grant worth USD 11.205million. The project covers the seventeen (17) districts of Nakasongola, Kiryandongo, Luwero, Wakiso, Kaliro, Iganga, Luuka, Bugweri, Gulu, Nwoya, Amuria, Ngora, Bukedea, Manafa, Mbale, Alebtong, Soroti and Serere.
The grid extensions on this project were packaged into six lots. All the contractors have mobilized on ground and completion of works is expected by December, 2021. Works are at 40% completion.
Under this funding a project to connect Kalangala Island to the grid using a submarine cable has been packaged and is the project was launched on 21st October 2020.
- RE Schemes implemented using the Abu Dhabi Funding covers the seven (7) districts of Kalungu, Bukomansimbi, Mpigi, Masaka, Lyantonde, Bukomansimbi and Kiruhura.
This project is financed through a loan obtained from the Abduhabi Fund worth USD 11million. Of this amount, USD 9.74million is funded by Abduhabi Fund and USD 1.26million is from GoU.
- Extension of power to the Refugee resettlement areas funded by the Norwegian Government. Currently works are on-going in the refugee districts of Koboko, Yumbe, Adjumani, Kitgum and Paidha.
