Government extends Karuma power dam contract by one year

9 February 2023, 10:22 am

By Denis Okello(denis.okello@vol.co.ug)

Government anticipates that once completed, Karuma hydro-power dam will boost Uganda’s electricity generation capacity to 2000 megawatts.

Government has extended by one year, the contract awarded to Chinese hydro-power engineering and construction company, Syno Hydro Corporation which is undertaking the construction of Karuma hydro-power dam.

The construction of the 600 megawatts, Karuma hydro-power dam commenced in December 2013 at 6.2 trillion shillings.

The project that had been done up to 99% was supposed to have been completed last year but the contractor requested ministry of energy and mineral development for additional time after the project was delayed by vandalism of electricity tower lines and power cables.

The vandalism was mostly prevalent along Karuma-Lira and Karuma-Kawanda power lines.

In August 2022, Syno Hydro Corporation wrote to ministry of energy and mineral development for one year contract extension to allow for replacement of the vandalized sections of the electricity tower lines.

The head of legal affairs at Syno hydro Corporation Tony Obonyo told Voice of Lango FM that ministry of energy and mineral development endorsed their request for contract extension late last year and the contract was consequently extended for one year.

Obonyo said much as their contract has been extended, they are still faced with a challenge of vandalism, citing the Karuma-Kawanda power line where five electricity tower lines were vandalized in December last year.