Uganda launches construction of mega power dam on river Nile
August 13, 2013 (KAMPALA) – Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Monday launched the construction of a new dam along the river Nile that is expected to add 600MW on the national grid.
The Karuma Hydro power dam will cost $1.4b and will be constructed by Chinese company, Sinohydro Corporation
Speaking at the commissioning of construction in Kiryandongo district, President Museveni praised the Chinese for having the technical expertise and money to fund infrastructural projects.
“Happily, our Chinese friends also have, not only the technical capacity, but financial capacity as well on favourable terms’’, said Museveni.
Museveni said Chinese lending is also “completely free of the usual meddling and high-handedness of some of the friends from outside”.
It is suspected by the reference to “meddling friends from outside”, Museveni meant western countries who peg values as democracy and good governance to projects that they fund, unlike the Chinese.
Museveni also praised the Chinese for focusing on “primary sectors of the economy such as infrastructure instead of focusing on secondary sectors of national life”.
Uganda faces regular power outages as a result of increased demand for electricity which has shot up from 10% to 15% annually, according to the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company.
(ST)