National power grid project excites residents of Kalangala

INFRASTRUCTURE

Residents of Kalangala have been thrilled with the government decision to construct a sh32bn submarine cable that will connect the islands to the main power grid.

The project, the first of its kind in the district, will see the Ssese islands, known for their tourism attraction and palm oil growing, get connected to the hydropower, which is expected to reduce by half power tariffs for both domestic and commercial consumers.

The district has 63 habitable islands but consumers at Kalangala Town Council on the main island of Buggala have been using solar and generator power, which they complained against for being too expensive.

A unit of power, supplied by Kalangala Infrastructure Services (KIS) costs sh825 and is uniform both day and night while on average it costs sh452 elsewhere. The cost of power is therefore expected to reduce by almost a half once the project is completed in the next 12 months.

Mary Goretti Kitutu, the minister for energy and mineral development recently launched the project at Bugoma landing site in Kalangala and later handed over contract documents to CICC-Beijing and Commercial Company Limited, the company contracted to execute the work.

The project, financed by the African Development Bank, is implemented through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)

The contractor will build a supply powerhouse at Bukakata in Masaka district and lay submarine cables across the Lake to Bugoma, covering a distance of 7km.

The power will be extended to 27 service points at Buggala Island targeting trading centres, schools, health units, agricultural enterprises, businesses and domestic loads along the project routes.

The minister said the project was delayed by the onset of COVID-19 pandemic but assured the residents that it will be commissioned in the next one year.

She pledged that if the project succeeds, it will be extended to other islands that make up Kalangala and other districts. 

According to Dr Patricia Litho, the head of communication at REA, the submarine cable project is expected to bring power tariffs in Kalangala to affordable levels and steer further growth. She said Kalangala was fast becoming a commercial hub but high-power charges had failed many small-scale projects in the area.

She said Kalangala residents were paying 825 per unit because of investment costs, almost double the rate paid by consumers in Kampala and elsewhere.

She assured people that the project had met all the environmental standards and that it will have no impact on aquatic life. The armoured submarine power cables will be laid at the Lake bed and firmly fixed to avoid any leakages.

The LC5 chairman Willy Lugoloobi said solar power supplied by KIS was too expensive as compared to rates elsewhere.

He, however, thanked the government for having waived off house connection fees for the previous solar-power connection and appealed to the ministry to extend the offer to the remaining villages without power.

He said Kalangala has 63 habitable islands that would as well need power.

The area LC1 chairperson, Regis Namukasa said the people of Kalangala can only show their appreciation through the vote by choosing those that have contributed to the improvement of their welfare.