Isimba Dam Damage To See Uganda Buy Electricity From Kenya

Uganda has underway plans to buy 60 megawatts from Kenya to plug a power shortfall gap caused by flooding at the 183MW Isimba dam that was temporarily shut down.

Uganda generates 1,254MW, of which 1,004.3MW is from hydro dams. The average demand peaks at 800MW.

The powerhouse at the $568 million reservoir was nearly submerged last Monday, short-circuiting switchboards and electric motors. The cost of the damage is yet to be established but is estimated at billions of shillings.

In a statement dated 16 August 2022, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa who attributed the shutdown at Isimba to operational challenges that led to the flow of water into the powerhouse, said that the power operator, Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) is considering to import about 60 megawatts of power from Kenya.

China’s Exim Bank financed 80 percent of the dam, commissioned in March 2019.

Chief Opposition Whip, Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe called for an investigation on Isimba power plant which was commissioned in 2019 citing shoddy works.

“The power dam was commissioned two years ago and it has already shut down even under period of defects liability. It puts in serious questions on the structural integrity of this facility. An investigation must be instituted to find out what has happened because this speaks volumes about work which could have been shoddy or compromised,” Nambeshe said.

Nambeshe also opposed Uganda’s government’s proposal to import electricity from Kenya saying the country’s electricity generation is adequate

Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the top markets for Uganda’s surplus electricity.