Sh700m Uganda power line starts

Tuesday June 28, 2011

The building of a sh700m power line extension project for Wakisi sub-county in Buikwe district Uganda has started. The project, under the Rural Electrification Programme, consists of two power lines, which will extend electricity to Dekabusa and Nankwanga trading centres. Work, which commenced this month, is expected to be completed next month.

The lines will benefit over 600 households in the area. Magoola Koowa, a resident of Dekabusa, has already hatched plans to set up a maize mill in the trading centre to improve his income.

“We have been moving to Mbikko, about 10 kilometres from here, to take our grains to the mill. “Even charging a mobile phone would require us to move miles. Therefore, I will use this opportunity to bring services nearer to the people,” he said.

The Wakisi lines are located on the Njeru-Kayunga road. The area has several residential and commercial buildings, including guesthouses and hotels, but has lacked electricity for decades.

Construction work is being done by C&G Contractors and is funded by the Government through the Rural Electrification Agency.

The Buikwe North Member of Parliament, Onyango Kakoba, while touring the project on Friday, said three other projects would soon be set up in Nyenga sub-county.

The Nyenga projects include a six-kilometre line from Sungu to Kidusu, the 10-kilometre Bukiike-Mbukiro-Buwampa and the Mawangala-Namabu-Buwagajjo lines.

Kakoba was optimistic all trading centres in the area would benefit from the five-year programme.

He, however, challenged the residents to utilise the opportunity to initiate income-generating activities to reduce poverty in the area.

By Charles Kakamwa: The New Vision Newspaper