Uganda to Break Ground for the ORIO Mini Hydro Power Project this Saturday

Uganda, through the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC), will break ground for the ORIO Mini Hydro Power Project on February 1, 2025, in Mitooma District.

This follows a grant of up to 13.1 million euros secured by UECCC for the development of nine mini hydro power sites as a single project aimed at enhancing rural electrification.

The project is funded by the ORIO Infrastructure Fund (now “Invest International”) of the Netherlands Government, with co-financing from the Government of Uganda. UECCC serves as the designated implementing agency.

Upon completion, the ORIO Mini Hydro Power Project is expected to provide electricity to 71,081 households and 2,300 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural Western Uganda.

The project entails the construction of nine mini hydro power plants with a combined capacity of 6.7 MW, the development of a 288-kilometer local distribution network, and the connection of up to 71,081 households in Kasese, Bushenyi, Mitooma, Hoima, Kabarole, Bunyangabu, and Bundibugyo districts.

These hydro plants will provide a stable and reliable power source for rural electrification, addressing the challenge of wheeling power over long distances.

According to Roy Nyamutale Baguma, Managing Director of UECCC, the project sites were selected based on their high social return in terms of rural electrification rather than commercial viability.

“The project aligns with the Government of Uganda’s policies, including the National Development Plan III (NDP III), and prioritizes increased access to electricity for rural communities,” Baguma stated.

He further noted that contracts were signed with two contractors: HNAC Technology Co. Ltd from China for civil and hydro-mechanical works and Ossberger GmbH from Germany for the design, manufacture, supply, and installation of electro-mechanical works.

To date, all Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) have been fully compensated, and primary residents have been resettled in newly constructed houses.

“This project will significantly contribute to socio-economic transformation and improved livelihoods in Uganda. We look forward to collaborating with key stakeholders in the renewable energy ecosystem to ensure its successful implementation,” Baguma added.