President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has launched Uganda’s largest hydroelectric power plant in Karuma, Kiryandongo district, which is expected to generate 600 MW compared to Uganda’s oldest hydroelectric facility, Nalubale (Owen Falls Dam), which was commissioned in 1954 with a capacity of 180 MW.
During the commissioning ceremony on September 6, 2024, in Kiryandongo district, the President highlighted the need for Uganda to have enough electricity for a modern person in normal circumstances.
“We have had plans of having low costs of electricity that is cheap and reliable. Handling the issues of the low costs of electricity, lower than the one of Bujagali, is our target,” the president highlighted.
The President also highlighted plans to introduce electric railway lines from Kampala to Malaba, Congo, Kasese, and Gulu to save transport costs.
“Petro tankers should be off the road and transported in the pipeline, then cargo on the railway so that the road can remain with passenger vehicles. We have got a long way to go; we have moved now, but we aren’t going to relax with the little electricity we have,” the president noted.
With plans to construct a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from Malaba to Kampala, President Museveni hopes that this will enhance regional connectivity with Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
Additionally, Italian investors were given the green light to construct a railway line from Tororo to Majanji in order to facilitate trade from Northern Uganda and neighboring countries.
Vice President Jessica Alupo congratulated the President upon this achievement and emphasized the government’s commitment to generate more power.
“Today’s event isn’t just a reflection of a significant milestone. This project ensures that Uganda has capacity, bringing our total capacity to 2000 MW and our commitment to a sustainable future. As we look to the future, the 52000 MW of generation of electricity in 2040,” Alupo noted.
She attributed the success of the project to President Museveni’s visionary leadership.
“Your Excellency, we are grateful to your visionary leadership, specifically us, whom you have groomed, peace and security, economic stability, and political stability,” Alupo remarked.
The Minister of Energy Development, Ruth Nakabirwa, highlighted a few challenges, including compensation of project-affected persons and the lockdown due to COVID-19, as the major challenges they had.
“I apologize about the project-affected persons who died, and however we shall continue to pay. Others will be settled in Nyowa, Lapono; however, we need money. Good news is that some of that money is available to make sure that acquired land is utilized,” Nakabirwa noted.
The Karuma Hydropower Plant is a 600 MW facility that has been under construction on the Nile River in Kiryandongo District since 2013.
Initially estimated at $1.7 billion, costs are believed to have to be about $2.2 billion due to delays and challenges.
The project that has been completed in September 2024 as projected has had four of six turbines already operational.
The plant is said to be Uganda’s largest power generation facility, significantly boosting the national grid’s capacity. The plant’s construction was led by Sinohydro, with financing primarily from Chinese.
Well-endowed with a number of waterfalls, Uganda now has a sizeable number of power plants, such as the Isimba Hydropower Plant, Bujagali Hydropower Station, and Kiira Hydroelectric Power Station, among the many.
This achievement is in line with NRM’s socio-economic transformation agenda to enhance electricity generation through significant projects like the Karuma Hydropower Plant with an aim to meet Uganda’s increasing energy needs and support economic growth.