By Chris Omony

CONSTRUCTION of a major dam for the $27m (sh53b) Buseruka power project in Hoima is on course, the project manager has said. The Hydromax project is funded by the African Development Bank and the PTA Bank.

During a familiarisation tour of the Kiryamboga village-based project with reporters recently, Shahid Basha said they had already embarked on major works for the first phase.

Basha said the first phase would include construction of a dam, power house, pen stock and power lines, which would generate the power.

He said the second phase would involve installation and commissioning of the turbine generators.

“We intend to build a 44km power line from the powerhouse to the sub-station in Hoima,” Basha noted. “We shall also build additional four power channels that can meet the demand and safety standards required for power supply,” he added.

Basha said the project would generate 9MW that would be supplied to most major areas in Hioma and neighbouring districts, including the Tullow Oil ridges on the shores of Lake Albert and the main grid at Hoima sub-station.

“If all goes as planned, we intend to complete this project in the next 13 months.”

In a later interview, the energy minister, Daudi Migereko, said the power project was strategically located near the oil ridge.