The Murchison Falls which
is one of Uganda’s stunning tourist attraction, is under threat, following a
notice that a private company intends to construct a hydro power dam in its
place.
The power regulator the Electricity
Regulatory Authority (ERA), kicked up a storm last week after it published a
notice on June 6 inviting public views on the planned feasibility study for a
360 megawatts dam at Murchison Falls, one of the few remaining jewels on the
Nile. This has cast a shadow over the tourism sector.
According to the original
draft of President Museveni’s State of the Nation Address published on his
website, it is stated that government plans to develop six hydropower sites,
including the Murchison Falls, which has a capacity of 650 MW.
In the budget that was read
out Mr Kasaija listed Ayago, Oriang, Kiba and Uhuru (600MW) as the potential
hydropower sites for development “in the medium to long term, in partnership
with the private sector” to augment the country’s generation capacity.
The proposed Uhuru hydro power station will be situated at Uhuru Falls, an offshoot of Murchison Falls.
The proposed Uhuru hydro power station will be situated at Uhuru Falls, an offshoot of Murchison Falls.
No assessment has been made
public yet on the practicality of a hydropower dam at any of the falls.
However, what has become apparent is the government’s desire to develop either
one or both sites but the idyllic Murchison Falls provides a perfect view for
tourists as the roaring waters of the Nile cascade into a cauldron and majestically
escape towards the north hence tourists from near and far visit the site to
catch the breath-taking scene this and other tour sites supports tourism which
is one of the bedrocks of Uganda’s economy and one of the highest foreign
exchange earner, raking in $1.2b (Shs 4.5 trillion) in 2018
What the government is saying?
The government has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African firm, Bonang Power and Energy Ltd, to undertake the feasibility study at Murchison Falls but it is not binding said Mr Kasande but on the website of the South African company, Bonang Power and Energy Ltd, says that in May 2015, the company’s officials met with President Museveni at State House Nakasero about the deal to refurbish and upgrade Uganda’s oldest hydro-power dam the Owen Falls dam and its auxiliary Kiira 2 hydro-power station in Jinja district and also listed the proposed Uhuru hydropower as one its interests in Uganda without an informed cost benefit analysis.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), as per the end of last year, there were at least 1.3 million electricity customers on the national grid, 93 per cent of whom were served by Umeme and the remaining customers served by mini grids spread around the country.
The Karuma and Isimba dam was commissioned earlier in March and cost a combined Shs 6.7 trillion of which 80 percent of the money was a loan from China’s EXIM Bank.
The government has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African firm, Bonang Power and Energy Ltd, to undertake the feasibility study at Murchison Falls but it is not binding said Mr Kasande but on the website of the South African company, Bonang Power and Energy Ltd, says that in May 2015, the company’s officials met with President Museveni at State House Nakasero about the deal to refurbish and upgrade Uganda’s oldest hydro-power dam the Owen Falls dam and its auxiliary Kiira 2 hydro-power station in Jinja district and also listed the proposed Uhuru hydropower as one its interests in Uganda without an informed cost benefit analysis.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), as per the end of last year, there were at least 1.3 million electricity customers on the national grid, 93 per cent of whom were served by Umeme and the remaining customers served by mini grids spread around the country.
The Karuma and Isimba dam was commissioned earlier in March and cost a combined Shs 6.7 trillion of which 80 percent of the money was a loan from China’s EXIM Bank.
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