Museveni commissions Karuma
By GEORGE MUZOORA
Posted Tuesday, August 13 2013 at 01:00
IN SUMMARY
Landmark. The Shs3.5 trillion project, which is mainly supported by the
Chinese, will supply power lines to various sub-stations.
Kiryandongo
The start of construction of the 600MW Karuma hydropower dam edged closer to
reality with the ground breaking ceremony taking place yesterday in
Kiryandongo District.
President Museveni, who presided over the ceremony for the multi-billion
shilling project, hailed the good partnership between the Chinese government
and Africa. I salute this partnership with China, Mr Museveni said.
The dam is being constructed by Sinohydro, a Chinese firm. Mr Museveni said
Chinese lending is free from strings attached unlike other developed
countries. He said lack of sufficient electricity has been a bottleneck for
economic growth. Karuma has been hobbled by wrangling between the government
departments, politicians and intending contractors for months with
accusations of corruption clouding the procurement process.
That unrest is now over. The President reminded his audience that building
of the power project will be financed by a loan from Exim Bank of China and
Uganda. Exim Bank of China will contribute 85 per cent while Uganda will
contribute 15 per cent.
The whole project will cost $1.4b (Shs3.5 trillion) while a separate $250m
(Shs641b) will be spent on the construction of power lines to evacuate
generated electricity. It is my pleasure to perform the ceremony of the
groundbreaking, it is a pity that the project was delayed due to shoddy work
in the procurement, Mr Museveni said. He said the money which the
government would be using to construct the dam will now be spent on
development of other infrastructure, like roads and rural electrification
programmes.
The minister for Energy, Ms Irene Muloni, said the major transmission lines
will be from Karuma to Kawanda power sub-station, Karuma to Kamdini and
Karuma to Lira substation. She said the project required 466 hectares of
land and 621 people were affected by the project with 478 fully compensated.
She attributed the delay in compensating the remaining people to land
wrangles mainly in Awoo village, Mutunda Sub-county.
Kibanda MP Sam Otada asked government to expedite payment of the remaining
claimants.
Mr James Omale, one of the affected residents, said the government has
failed to compensate him for the 13 graves of his relatives. He said he had
been promised to be paid Shs2.5m in April, but he has not yet received his
package. I was given a paper indicating that the money will be on my
account in April but up to now I have not seen it, Mr Omale said.
editor...@ug.nationmedia.com
Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni and Dr. Kiiza Besigye Uganda is in anarchy"
Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni na Dk. Kiiza Besigye Uganda ni katika machafuko"
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