THE construction of the second phase of the rural electrification project was recently commissioned by the State Minister for Minerals, Peter Lokeris at Nabitende sub-county in Iganga district, reports Ronnie Kijjambu.

The $6.3m project will provide electricity to about 760,000 people in Iganga and Bugiri districts. The trading centres to be covered include Bugeso, Iwembe, Buyala Nabirere and Namba in Bugiri. Others are Namungalwe, Nabitende, Bugono, Kiwanyi, Nawangaiza, Naluku, Ituba and Itanda in Iganga.

The construction of the 33KV network is funded by the Japanese government and will be completed by the end of the year.

The project will help the rural communities to increase their incomes by enabling them engage in agro-processing activities, such as maize milling and tea leaf drying which require electricity.

The first phase of the rural electrification project was completed in Hoima, Kibale and Masaka districts in Febuary.