As the elections season gathers momentum government has finalized plans to connect West Nile region to the national grid. 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 .
Government through Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) in partnership with Exim Bank of China have been undertaking the construction of a 600MW Hydro Power Plant at Karuma, which is nearly completion . UETCL was mandated to construct interconnection system to evacuate power from Karuma and feed into the national grid.
The increased capacity would then allow power supply and accessibility to northern Uganda including West Nile, Acholi, Lango and parts of Karamoja with a number of substations installed along the way .
SMEC International PTY Ltd, Air Water Earth (AWE) and Associated Engineers & Surveyors were deployed as consultants who prepared the Compensation and Resettlement Action Plan in the affected areas where the transmission lines had to pass to reach the desired destinations.
Energy and Mineral Development Minister Gorreti Kitutu , represented President Yoweri Museveni at the signing ceremony and assured the people of West Nile through their Members of Parliament that government was commitment to have the region on the national grid to spur industrialization and job creation for the people.
” We are resolved and focused on ensuring our brother and sisters who entrusted you to be their leaders see your hard work on this project” she noted. The singing ceremony was attended by State Minister for Energy Hon Simon Dujanga,
Pressure group for West Nile electricity
Ms. Evelyn Anite, State Minister for Privatization and Investment is the patron of Voice of West Nile Electricity Connectivity Committee, that was set up to lobby, coordinate and update on the progress of West Nile connectivity to the national grid. He Committee is chaired by city lawyer Caleb Alaka, Vice Chair, Arua businessman Jackson Lee Atima, who is the chair Chamber of Commerce Arua, Secretary General Mr. Adomati Dickson and Mr. Matua Job Richard a vibrant cadre of NRM government. Anite thanked President Museveni for fulfilling his promises to the people of West Nile and Uganda at large. “If you remember he started with tarmac from Karuma to Oreba border, electricity although it has not been sufficient for the much needed investments, the Referral Hospital and now Arua City” she noted.
The ongoing work to connect West nile to the national grid according to the chairman Board of Directors Uganda Electricity Transmission Company (UETCL), Dr. Ocanda, is expected to be completed within six months. The 132KV power line will have four sub substations at Kole, Gulu, Nebbi and Arua.
