Ground Broken on €342.6 Million Karuma-Tororo Power Line

The government has broken ground on a €342.6 million electricity transmission project expected to strengthen power supply to eastern Uganda and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area

The project comes as the country seeks to match its expanding electricity generation capacity with infrastructure to deliver power to consumers.

The 347-kilometre, 400-kilovolt Karuma-Tororo transmission line will traverse 15 districts and include associated substations. The project is expected to take 36 months to complete. 

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Energy and Mineral Development Minister Monica Musenero said the project would provide infrastructure needed to support industries, create jobs and accelerate Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. 

She urged contractors and engineers to begin work promptly, maintain construction standards and complete the project within the planned timeframe. 

Musenero also called on local suppliers to participate in the project and communities along the route to protect the infrastructure against vandalism. 

The project is intended to strengthen the transmission network linking electricity generation to major consumption centres, including eastern Uganda and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

It is also expected to support industrialisation and regional electricity trade.

Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) Board Chairperson Kwame Ejalu said investments in electricity generation, including the 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Plant, must be matched by adequate transmission capacity to ensure reliable power supply to households, businesses and industries.

“Ultimately, its success is not merely about the kilometres of transmission line or substations, but the reliability, economic opportunity and regional connectivity it delivers for generations to come,” Ejalu said.

He called on contractors, consultants and government agencies to uphold accountability, ensure value for money and deliver quality infrastructure. 

He also emphasised the need for fair and transparent compensation and resettlement for people affected by the project.

Sweden, which is supporting the project, has described the investment as an example of cooperation between the two countries in expanding electricity infrastructure. 

Swedish Ambassador to Uganda Anna-Maria Olsson said the project combines Swedish financing and technical expertise with Uganda’s development ambitions.

“This project is testimony to what can be accomplished through partnership to overcome common challenges. It brings together Swedish capital and technical expertise with Ugandan ambition to advance sustainable energy development. This will in turn enable expansion of Uganda’s industrial and productive capacity,” Olsson said. 

She said Sweden would continue working with Uganda in capacity building, renewable energy development, grid infrastructure and project financing. 

The project aligns with Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan, Vision 2040, the Energy Policy 2023 and UETCL’s Corporate Strategic Plan for 2025–2030. 

Ejalu also urged the public to report suspicious activities targeting electricity installations, warning that vandalism disrupts power supply and diverts resources that could otherwise be used to expand and improve the network.