The Uganda Energy Credit Capitalization Companyl (UECCC), Managing Director Roy Nyamutale Baguma has announced the imminent groundbreaking of the ORIO mini hydro power projects across the country.
Speaking to the media on January 29, 2024, Baguma reported that the groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 in Mitooma district officiated by the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa.
Baguma said that UECCC accessed a grant of up to 13.1m euros (approx Shs50bn) towards the development of 9 mini hydro power sites as a single project for rural electrification.
He added that the project is funded by the ORIO Infrastructure fund (Now “Invest International”) of the Netherlands Government and co-financing from the Government of Uganda with UECCC as the designated Implementing Agency of the Project.
He emphasized that at the end of the ORIO mini hydro power project cycle, it is expected that 71,081 households and 2,300 Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs) in rural Western Uganda will be connected to electricity.
“The ORIO mini hydro power project entails construction of nine (9) mini hydro power plants (combined capacity of 6.7 MW) and construction of a local distribution network (288 KM) in the project area as well as connecting up-to 71,081 households in the project area (Kasese, Bushenyi, Mitooma, Hoima, Kabarole, Bunyangabu and Bundibugyo Districts) as a single project,” Baguma stated.
According to him, the project is designed to respond to GoU policies including the National Development Plan III (NDP III) and priority programs towards increased access to electricity for rural electrification.
“Following the signing of contracts with two contractors who will implement the project; (HNAC Technology Co. Ltd from the People’s Republic of China for the Civil and Hydro-mechanical works and Ossberger GmbH from Germany for the design, manufacture, supply and install the Electro-mechanical works of the Project), UECCC will have a groundbreaking ceremony in Mitooma district,” Baguma said.
Baguma noted that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development team will be led by the Minister, Dr. Canon Ruth Nankabirwa and the Chief Guest will be the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Thomas Tayebwa.
All Project Affected Persons (PAPs) have been fully compensated, and primary residents have been resettled in the newly constructed resettlement houses. This Project will significantly contribute to socio-economic transformation and improved livelihoods in Uganda.
