Govt to connect sub-county headquarters to power grid

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda

With 117 district headquarters connected to the power grid, and an effort being made to connect the remaining four, the Government now plans to take electricity to the sub counties.

Two of the four district headquarters - Kaabong and Kotido - are expected to be connected before the end of the current financial year. 

Buyende and Buvuma district headquarters, according to Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, will be connected to the national grid in the 2018/19 financial year.

"Implementation of the rural electrification programme is progressing well, with nearly all district headquarters connected to the national grid. Focus is now moving to all sub-county headquarters," Rugunda stated in a statement.

It was delivered by his first deputy, Moses Ali, at the 7th energy ministry sector review meeting at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala on Thursday.

"Already, Government is making good progress in improving electricity generation, transmission and supply to support industrialisation as well as ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services," Rugunda added.

During the two-day sector review that began today, the ministry will assess its performance against the targets set last financial year, and agree on new goals.

The energy minister, Irene Muloni, said the ministry has performed well on major fronts - power generation, petroleum, rural electrification, electricity transmission and mining.

"A lot has been done, but we still have a lot to do. During this reporting period, a total of 8,840km of medium voltage lines and 5,700km of low voltage distribution lines were completed and also promoted the use of off-grid renewable energy technologies," she added.  

Muloni explained that connecting sub-counties is expected to cost $200m and that all sub-county headquarters will have power in the next four years.