By S Kwagala: The Government of Uganda and South Sudan have signed an agreement to begin sharing power.
The agreement was signed off by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, on behalf of the
Uganda Government ,and Mr Peter
Marcello Jelenge, representing the South Sudan government in Juba today .
According to the countries ,the venture is to boost power trade between the two countries and bring socio-economic development to the border towns of Oraba, Elegu, Kaya and Nimule.
Dr Nankabirwa noted that this deed was a mark of the beginning of serious power trade cooperation between Uganda and South Sudan .
She said: “We would like to see projects that benefit both the people of Uganda and South Sudan. We will take power from small towns in Uganda, such as Elegu and Oraba. Similarly, the people at the borders such as Nimule and Kaya in South Sudan shall be supplied with power from
Uganda.”
The Agreement will see the prioritization of the development of the 400kV Olwiyo -Juba Power Transmission Line of 308km (138km on the Ugandan side and
170km in South Sudan) to facilitate power exchange between the two countries.
In addition, the 400kV Power Substations of Olwiyo and Bibia-near Uganda’s Elegu border post, and the Juba substation will be expanded.
This decision is only a follow up on a December 2015 Memorandum of Understanding designed to develop
transmission and distribution of infrastructure to connect the two countries.
Uganda supplies power to other countries like Kenya , Tanzania and DRC Congo. However, many Ugandans have often expressed concern over high electricity tariffs compared to neighbours who get power from Uganda.