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By Mike Rwothomio
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has commissioned electricity access scale-up project for west Nile sub region on August 2, 2024 at Thatha ward in Nebbi municipality, amidst call by local leaders for more rural connections.
The substation based at Thatha cell, Thatha division in Nebbi municipality was commissioned by the minister of energy and mineral development Dr.Ruth Nankabirwa, at Nebbi town play grounds, on August 2, 2024.
This comes just after the ministry earlier commissioned the Gulu-Olwiyo 132 kV line portion of the Kole-Gulu- Nebbi-Arua Project extending the transmission grid to west Nile. The long awaited World Bank funded project cost us $638 (sh 2 trillion) according to permanent secretary ministry of energy and mineral development, Eng. Irene Batebe.
She added that the national launch of the Electricity Access scale-up project will increase access OF electricity energy at household level, commercial enterprises, industrialization, public institutions amongst others, further commended the World Bank funding the project noting that “we will be making additional projects to ensure our people are fully connected”
The 132kv line portion has put to bed the years of darkness in the sub region with the population of over 3 million people from the fourteen districts of Zombo, Nebbi, Nebbi municipality, Pakwach, Madi-OKolo, Terego, Maracha, Obongi, Yumbe, Koboko, Moyo, Adjumani, Arua city and Arua district.
West Nile leaders react
Jackeline Opar, the LCIII Chairperson of Thatha division who double as the Dean of Association of LCIII In Nebbi , lauds government for fulfilling its long term commitment to the west Nile people further appealing for “ connection of more areas in the division’’
She added that “power is important but we have a big problem of road honorable minister, we pray that the president hear our prayers”
The LCV chairperson of Nebbi district Emmanuel Orombi, commended government for the great millstone, calling for connection of more sub counties in the district. He also noted that in the past months, there has been improvement in power supply as compared to the previous years.
“We thank government for this initiative but honorable minister, we are drawing to your attention that only 10% of our sub counties are connected with power, it is our prayers that all these other remaining sub counties and even the few seems to be connected, power just pass through them like Akworo, Jupangira, Nebbi Municipality, Erussi with Parombo, the rest out of 16 are still living in darkness or using solar” Orombi.
The MP for Nebbi municipality Hashim Suleiman, appealed for connection of “all our 46 different cells in Nebbi municipality since it hosts the main substation”. He also rallied residents to make maximum use of the power at their disposal to cause fundamental changes in the livelihoods.
Meanwhile William Anyama, the LCV Chairperson of Moyo reminded government about lack of key rural electrification components that has left out many parts of west Nile, appealing that “we have many sub county headquarters, schools, government institutions like health center IIIs which are not connected”.
He further stressed the need for better coordination between officials from the ministry of energy and local leaders revealing how on several occasions “technical staff from the ministry bypass local leaders whilst implementing important government projects thus creating confusion”
By 2040, the government of Uganda plans to have 52,400 mw of electricity. In west Nile, Obongi remains the only district without any electricity polls.
The minister of energy and mineral development Ruth Nankabirwa says the completion of the power project, fulfills the constant demand the west Nile leaders have been pushing for years. She also commended the World Bank and development partners for their full support noting that “as Uganda, we are moving forward to energy transmission, but allow say West Nile is on fire, because last time you put me on fire but now, am turning back with result”.
She added “the consumers’ needs to be connected that is when we shall be talking business, the industries in Arua and those others coming up, in Nebbi, and those big town centers in the region are going to consume this electricity, the schools, health centers will consume this electricity and we shall be happy”
The minister further noted that, government stand point is not to stop at the substation but proceed to rural electrification calling for patience on rural connections. She assured of the soon completion of 6.5 Mw Nyagak III power station in Zombo district, that will add on the already existing electricity in the region.
Responding to the rural connection demands made by different west Nile leaders, the minister calls for patience saying “we are not throwing these requests in the basket, we are moving ahead with them, specifically on Obongi district”
Meanwhile Joshep kapita, who represented the World Bank country commissioner, expressed the organization’s support toward the scale-up intervention expressing hope that the established infrastructure will facilitate the expeditious implementation of many government programmes in the region.
He added that “Our interventions are designed to respond to government policies including NDPIII, SDG7, and priority programs towards increase access to clean and modern energy. The substation shall be switched on by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Saturday August 3, 2024 eventually lighting up the west Nile sub region.
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