Uganda has broken ground on a Shs 1.27 trillion electricity transmission project linking Karuma to Tororo, in a major investment aimed at strengthening power supply to eastern Uganda and Greater Kampala, supporting industrialisation and expanding regional electricity trade.
The Karuma–Tororo 400-kilovolt (400kV) transmission project involves approximately 347 kilometres of transmission lines traversing 15 districts, alongside associated substations. Once completed, the project is expected to strengthen the national electricity grid and improve power delivery to households, businesses and industrial consumers.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Dr Monica Musenero said the project would provide critical infrastructure to support industrial growth, create jobs and accelerate Uganda’s socioeconomic transformation.
“Reliable electricity infrastructure is critical to supporting industries, creating jobs and accelerating Uganda’s socioeconomic transformation,” Musenero said, emphasising the importance of completing the project to the required standards.
She urged contractors and engineers to commence work promptly and deliver quality infrastructure within the planned 36-month construction period.
Musenero also encouraged local suppliers to take advantage of business opportunities arising from the project, while calling on communities along the transmission route to protect the infrastructure against vandalism.
The project is expected to create opportunities for local businesses involved in construction, materials supply, transportation and other services required during implementation.
Uganda has invested heavily in electricity generation, including the 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Plant. However, expanding generation capacity must be matched by adequate transmission infrastructure to ensure that electricity reaches households, businesses and industries reliably.
Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) Board Chairperson Kwame Ejalu said the new transmission line would complement investments in power generation by strengthening the network needed to deliver electricity to consumers.
“The transmission network is essential in ensuring that the electricity generated reaches homes, businesses and industries reliably,” Ejalu said.
He emphasised the importance of accountability, value for money and quality workmanship throughout the project’s implementation, noting that public investment must deliver lasting benefits.
Ejalu also stressed the need for fair compensation for project-affected persons, highlighting the importance of addressing community concerns as construction progresses.
With the transmission route passing through 15 districts, effective coordination with affected communities and property owners will be essential to managing construction activities, addressing land-related concerns and ensuring timely implementation.
Sweden has also reaffirmed its support for Uganda’s energy development. Sweden’s Ambassador to Uganda, Anna Maria, highlighted the longstanding cooperation between the two countries, involving Swedish companies, financing institutions and the Ugandan government.
She said the project would strengthen electricity transmission, support investment and create opportunities for regional power trade.
Improved transmission capacity could also enable Uganda to make better use of its electricity generation resources while strengthening connections with neighbouring electricity markets. Regional power trade offers opportunities to export surplus electricity when available and improve the integration of energy systems across borders.
The investment comes as Uganda pursues industrialisation and seeks to expand productive sectors that depend on reliable and competitively priced electricity. Manufacturers, agro-processors and other businesses require dependable power to operate machinery, increase production and manage operating costs.
The Karuma–Tororo project therefore forms part of the broader infrastructure required to attract private-sector investment, create employment and sustain economic growth.
Its success will depend on timely construction, effective project supervision, adherence to quality standards and responsible management of social and environmental impacts along the transmission corridor.
Once completed, the project is expected to strengthen Uganda’s electricity transmission network, improve power delivery to major demand centres and support the country’s long-term industrialisation and development ambitions.