Kigezi sub-region to receive electricity sub-station by the end of November in Muko sub-county in Rubanda district for the purposes of power boosting in Kigezi region. This is in accordance to Minister of state for energy Okaasai Sidronius Opolot’s communication in the meeting he had with Kisoro district political and technical leaders in the office of the Resident district commission.
The 80 megawatts sub-station will serve the districts of Kigezi region and in his further remarks he shown optimisim of establishing another one in Kisoro district in future.
Bestowing his remarks, the sub-station was in response to the request by the leaders from the region which coincided with government objectives of promoting industrialisation.
Hon. Okasaai who is leading the ministry’s technical team in Kigezi region noted that the concerns raised implicated how the power outages are inevitable in Kisoro district as the nearest power sub-station is located in Mbarara and thus in the bid to decentralise accessability, the ministry decided to establish more in the southwestern region with one at Mirama hills in Ntungamo and another one in muko sub-county in Rubanda to serve Kigezi region.
Despite the limited consumption rate that stands at 10 megawatts, Minister Okasaai said that they considered a surplus of 70 megawatts to ensure adequacy and reliability.
In his furthered communication, he guided leaders to prioritise productive ventures as the ministry is planning to establish another sub-station in Kisoro that will enable the government of Uganda reverse electricity importation from Rwanda by adopting the import substitution strategy.
Kisoro’s position makes it source its electricity from Ntaruka in Rwanda, a factor prompting government of Uganda work towards reversing the importation strategy that they plan to replace with export promotion strategies of electricity
He in his concluding remarks tasked all the leaders from Kisoro district to sit and rationalise the prioritised areas in power distribution and deliver the list to his office before Friday 30th August 2024.
Speaking after the Minister’s remarks, the chairperson of members of parliament from Kisoro district Kamara John Nizeyimana shared his optimism in the anticipated developmental projects in his constituency and the entire district.
Similarly, the Bufumbira south law maker Eng. Alex Niyonsaba Seruganda who was in attendance depicted his buoyancy towards the minister’s communication. Seruganda’s quotation depicted how such will enable the adequacy and reliability of the power.
Also in attendance was the Kisoro district chairman Abel Bizimana Zulupayi who joyfully lauded the minister for honouring their request. According to Bizimana, he together with the Bukimbiri county legislator Eddie Kwizera Wa-Gahungu visited the ministry to present the district concerns.
Bizimana called upon all the sub-county leaders to attend the meeting slated on Wednesday 28th August 2024 to discuss on how best priorities can be got.
