The Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) has extended its private sector model of operation to the 50-megawatt Namanve thermal plant.

The model that sees decentralisation of authority to ground teams operating and maintaining the UEGCL’s generation facilities was pioneered at the 183-megawatt Isimba hydropower plant in 2022.

UEGCL chief executive officer, Eng. Harrison Mutikanga signed the internal performance contract with Namanve thermal plant management in Kiwanga, Mukono district on Thursday (today).

“We are trying to mimic what happens in the private sector where we set targets for staff and give them incentives if they meet the targets,” Mutikanga said on Thursday.

Energy state minister Okaasai Opolot speaks during the signing of the Namanve thermal plant internal performance contract on Thursday.

Okaasai Opolot, the energy state minister, described the move as the missing link and something that needs to be replicated elsewhere as a way of achieving efficiency in the sector.

“We want excellence in performance. We want to deliver electricity and be assessed by our stakeholders. We want to see this in all the power plants,” Okaasai said.

Namanve thermal plant is one of the options that government started to beef up the country’s electricity generation capacity when it dwindled due to low water levels in Lake Victoria in the 2000s.

The plant was developed by Norwegian firm Jacobsen Elektro until February 2022 when it was handed over to UEGCL for operation and maintenance.