{"id":4085,"date":"2021-09-24T11:51:40","date_gmt":"2021-09-24T11:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ugandaupdatenews.com\/?p=4085"},"modified":"2021-09-24T11:59:22","modified_gmt":"2021-09-24T11:59:22","slug":"energy-minister-nankabirwa-assures-ugandans-that-karuma-hydro-power-plant-will-be-commisioned-next-year-and-power-evacuated-to-west-nile-and-other-needy-regions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/energy-minister-nankabirwa-assures-ugandans-that-karuma-hydro-power-plant-will-be-commisioned-next-year-and-power-evacuated-to-west-nile-and-other-needy-regions\/","title":{"rendered":"ENERGY MINISTER NANKABIRWA ASSURES UGANDANS THAT KARUMA HYDRO POWER PLANT WILL BE COMMISIONED NEXT YEAR AND POWER EVACUATED TO WEST NILE AND OTHER NEEDY REGIONS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY MOSES SSERWANGA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In West Nile<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Developments, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa has assured \u00a0the country that the construction of the 600MW Karuma Hydro Power Plant \u00a0will completed and ready for \u00a0commissioning mid next year .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hon. Nankabirwa was also happy to note that the contractor is now rectifying – especially the cabling following defects which were discovered by independent evaluators who were deployed by President Yoweri Museveni .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The supervising consultant has since been replaced and the\u00a0 contractor was compelled to fix all the identified defects and gaps on the multi- million US dollar power plant -which will be the biggest in Uganda. Sino Hydro Corporation Ltd, a Chinese company, is constructing the power plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have come here to see the defects we have been reading about. The work is huge. Initially, the contractor bundled all the cables together. Staff houses were supposed to be ready before construction of the dam started, but they are not yet ready , Nankabirwa told journalists at the project site .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eng. Irene Bateebe, the new Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, blamed the first owner\u2019s engineer (consulting engineer for government) for failing to investigate , verify and certify  the work done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the inception of the project, the owner\u2019s engineer did not do a good job. We got a better company that investigated the defects and we are now confident we shall commission this project in June 2022,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Albert  Byaruhanga, the project manager told the minister that  the defects  include mechanical installations, electrical cables, and general cabling where some cables do not meet contract specifications and international standards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contractor is now installing new quality cables with the required specifications- on a project that will boost power supply \u00a0\u00a0in Uganda and enable the ministry of Energy \u00a0through its \u00a0electricity agencies -the Uganda Electricity Generation Company limited (UEGCL) and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company limited (UETCL) to evacuate power to the most needy regions -especially West Nile .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UGCL and UTCL are headed by Dr. Eng Harrison E. Mutikanga and Mr. George Rwabajungu, respectively. The two senior technical officials led their respective teams to explain to the Minister -the national developments in the energy sector .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nankabirwa instructed the contractor to bring in more engineers  to ensure the commissioning of the Karuma Power Plant next year is not delayed any further .\u201d We must deliver this dam to the Ugandan people as promised and with all defects rectified  . We must energize all the transmission lines that have been erected ,\u201d Nankabirwa whom the area MPs said had energized the locals with her zeal for service delivery -stated .  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new Energy  Minister Hon. Nankabirwa was this week inspecting the government funded energy projects in Acholi  and West  Nile regions . Nankabirwa emphasized the point that government was committed to have the Karuma HPP up and running mid next year together with the  evacuation transmission lines connecting to Lira Substation, Olwiyo Susbtation , Arua substation and Kawanda Substation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Olwiyo substation has been developed with capacity to accommodate planned developments at Ayago, Oryang and Kiba. The substation is also to be connected to Gulu and Elegu Substation, then to South Sudan. It will serve the West Nile Region, through transmission lines to Pakwach, Arua, Paidha and the rest of the region, \u201c Nankabirwa told the residents  at Purongo Primary School in Nwoya district and the Arua MPs and district leaders in Arua city .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was accompanied on this stakeholder engagement by the State Minister for Minerals Hon. Peter Lokeris ,  Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako the CEO , Electricity Regulation Authority (ERA) and Dr.Eng. Badru Kiggundu the Chairman of the  Karuma Porject-Presidential Steering  Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hon .Nankabirwa noted that when Karuma is added on the national grid there will be stabilization of power supply to the Northern Region and socio \u2013economic transformation realised. \u201cThe government of Uganda is fully aware of the potential in the region, including Tourism, Agriculture and cross border trade, which can only be harnessed with stable and adequate power supply.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minister urged the area leaders including Members of Parliament to sensitize the people about power generation, transmission and distribution- so that they appreciate and understand what government is doing for them, own and protect the electricity infrastructure from vandalism -across the country .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministry of Energy Achievements;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The notable achievements include; the increment in the Installed Capacity from 380 MW in 2000 to the current 1,269.1 MW, the Transmission network length growing from 730 km to 3,100.5 km, Access to Clean Energy growing from 10% to 50%, an Off-Peak Tariff for Industrial Consumers of US Cents 5, and Uganda\u2019s  Electricity Regulatory Framework being ranked Number 1 on the continent for Three (3) consecutive times, in the Electricity Regulatory Index of the African Development Bank released in 2018, 2019 and 2020.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

msserwanga@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY MOSES SSERWANGA In West Nile The Minister of Energy and Mineral Developments, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa has assured \u00a0the country<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/IMG_20210921_103829_resized_20210924_022630562-1.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4094,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/government-to-support-the-communities-affected-by-the-development-of-karuma-hydro-power-plant-in-a-30bn-action-plan-nankabirwa\/","url_meta":{"origin":4085,"position":0},"title":"GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF KARUMA HYDRO POWER PLANT IN A 30BN ACTION PLAN-NANKABIRWA","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"September 24, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Our Reporters in Nwoya Government will support the communities \u00a0displaced by the construction of the \u00a0Karuma Hydro Power Plant\u00a0 in Nwoya district Acholi\u00a0 sub region in a three year 30bn Community Development Action Plan (CDAP), Energy\u00a0 Minister Ruth Nankabirwa has announced . \u00a0\u201cThese large scale infrastructure developments, as you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Development"","block_context":{"text":"Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":9367,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/energy-minister-nankabirwa-inspects-progress-of-works-at-nyagak-iii-hydro-power-plant-pledges-increase-of-electricity-supply-to-west-nile\/","url_meta":{"origin":4085,"position":1},"title":"Energy Minister Nankabirwa Inspects Progress Of Works At Nyagak III Hydro Power Plant, Pledges Increase of Electricity Supply to West Nile","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Energy Minister Dr Ruth Nankabirwa has toured the Nyagak III hydro power plant in Zombo district. During the inspection of the project, Nankabirwa expressed happiness with the progress of work undertaken so far and pledged to convince the ministry of finance to release the 28bshs to finalize the project. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/nank.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/nank.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/nank.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/nank.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15083,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/energy-minister-nankabirwa-commissions-nyagak-hydro-power-plant6-6mw-in-zombo\/","url_meta":{"origin":4085,"position":2},"title":"Energy Minister Nankabirwa Commissions Nyagak Hydro Power Plant(6.6mw) in Zombo","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"August 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Zulfah Namatovu Nyagak III Hydropower Plant, with a generation capacity of 6.6 megawatts, has officially been commissioned by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Sentamu. With an investment of USD 20 million, the project marks a significant milestone in the government\u2019s efforts to boost\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Nyagak-III-hydro-Project-Plant-Launched.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Nyagak-III-hydro-Project-Plant-Launched.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Nyagak-III-hydro-Project-Plant-Launched.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Nyagak-III-hydro-Project-Plant-Launched.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Nyagak-III-hydro-Project-Plant-Launched.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4050,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/energy-ministers-technical-team-inspects-isimba-hydro-power-plant\/","url_meta":{"origin":4085,"position":3},"title":"Energy ministers ,technical team inspects Isimba Hydro Power Plant","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"September 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"By Sierra Ruth Arinaitwe A team from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development paid an inspection visit to Isimba Hydro Power Plant, the third largest power plant in the country. The team, led by Hon Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) and Hon. Opolot Okaasai,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National Development"","block_context":{"text":"National Development","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-development\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ministers.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ministers.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ministers.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ministers.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ministers.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9481,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/karuma-hydro-power-project-to-be-commissioned-by-president-museveni-says-pm-nabbanja\/","url_meta":{"origin":4085,"position":4},"title":"Karuma Hydro Power Project to be commissioned by President Museveni says PM Nabbanja","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 17, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"One of Uganda's leading mega development project which is expected to increased national economic growth and development , the Karuma Hydro Power Project in Kiryandongo District, is ready and will be launched by President Yoweri Museveni later this year ,Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja has announced. Nabbanja who was on a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/PM-Nabbanja-and-visiting-team-being-briefed-outside-the-control-room.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/PM-Nabbanja-and-visiting-team-being-briefed-outside-the-control-room.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/PM-Nabbanja-and-visiting-team-being-briefed-outside-the-control-room.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/PM-Nabbanja-and-visiting-team-being-briefed-outside-the-control-room.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1531,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/excitement-as-government-okays-west-nile-to-be-connected-to-the-national-grid\/","url_meta":{"origin":4085,"position":5},"title":"EXCITEMENT AS GOVERNMENT OKAYS WEST NILE TO BE CONNECTED TO THE NATIONAL GRID","author":"MOSES SSERWANGA","date":"July 25, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"As the elections season gathers momentum government has finalized plans to connect \u00a0West Nile region to the national grid.\u00a0 Western nile is the only region which was yet to get electricity supply from the national grid even when the power generation capacity has been increased substantially . \u00a0Government \u00a0through Uganda\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/energy-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/energy-1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/energy-1.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/energy-1.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/energy-1.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-13T","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4085"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4085\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4093,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4085\/revisions\/4093"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}