The European Union has announced its commitment to allocate €60 million (equivalent to $63 million) toward the enhancement of one of Uganda’s most significant hydropower facilities. This investment serves as a vital contribution to addressing the funding challenges facing Uganda’s aging energy infrastructure, as confirmed by a prominent diplomat on Monday.
Situated at the origin of the River Nile in Jinja, Eastern Uganda, the Nalubaale and Kiira hydropower plant complex is responsible for generating approximately 380 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Notably, this complex represents Uganda’s most ancient power station, having been commissioned in the year 1954.
The South African energy behemoth, Eskom, operated the facility through a 20-year concession, which concluded earlier this year. Subsequently, control of the plant reverted to the government.
Jan Sadek, the European Union’s ambassador to Uganda, announced during a mining conference in the capital city, Kampala, that a substantial investment of approximately 60 million euros is earmarked for the restoration of the Kiira and Nalubaale hydropower plants. This strategic move aims to ensure a dependable energy supply that can fuel Uganda’s industrialization efforts.
Uganda’s energy infrastructure faces a funding shortfall, and the aging components within the network have given rise to frequent power outages and occasional system breakdowns.