UGANDA’S NYAGAK III HYDROPOWER STATION FINALLY COMMISSIONED

Officials tour the plant after the commissioning on August 1, 2025. Photo/ Mike Rwothomio 

By Mike Rwothomio
Zombo

The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, has successfully energized and commissioned   the 6.6 MW Nyagak III Hydropower Station in Otheko Parish, Paidha Subcounty, Zombo District, on August 1, 2025, dispelling concerns about the longevity of this multi-billion-shilling project launched in 2015.

The ceremonial grid connection was officiated by Energy Minister Dr. Ruth Mary Nankabirwa, joined by former State Minister for Energy Eng. Simon D’Ujanga, Alur Kingdom’s Prime Minister Opar Lawrence Angala, and political, religious, and cultural leaders, among others.

Dr. Nankabirwa announced that the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) and its technical team collaborated with the contractor to integrate the 6.6 MW output into the national grid.

She added that Nyagak III, alongside Nyagak I, positions West Nile as a key contributor to Uganda’s national grid, enhancing the country’s energy resilience.

“The power generated here will be transmitted to the Nebbi substation and distributed nationwide,” she stated. “We have officially synchronized 6.6 MW to the grid and handed over the station to UEGCL, marking the completion of technical commissioning.”

Addressing tariff concerns, Nankabirwa assured that end-user tariffs will decrease over time, enhancing electricity access across West Nile and beyond. “Government-funded projects like Nyagak III, similar to Karuma, ensure lower tariffs and cleaner energy due to its hydroelectric nature,” she explained.

This run-of-river hydroelectric facility, developed via a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), delivers reliable, renewable energy to the West Nile sub-region, historically plagued by power outages.

The commissioning aligns with UEGCL’s mission to ensure “safe and continuous electricity supply from all our stations,” coinciding with the historic August 2024 energization of the 132 kV Nebbi Thatha substation.

Eng. Nicholas Agaba Rugaba, Nyagak III Project Manager for UEGCL, noted that the project, initiated in 2015, was structured as a PPP, with the Government of Uganda holding a 30% stake through the Ministry of Energy and UEGCL, and a private consortium, comprising Hydromax Limited, Dott Services Limited, and Tata Consulting Engineers, holding 70%.

“After a decade of development, the station is now ready to transmit power to the national grid,” he said.

On project delays, Eng. Agaba clarified, “An initial international development partner withdrew, causing setbacks”

However, the Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Finance secured funding, including a US$10 million commitment from Afrexim Bank in 2020, alongside private consortium contributions, to overcome challenges like a compensation dispute with the Paidha chiefdom and heavy rains in 2022.

The US$20 million station features two 3.3 MW Horizontal Francis turbines, generating approximately 36.27 GWh annually, sufficient to power over 8,500 households in Arua, Nebbi, and Zombo districts.
It complements the 3.5 MW Nyagak I and 8.3 MW Euata thermal plants, creating over 300 jobs and bolstering regional energy security, per UEGCL.

Former State Minister of Energy, Eng. Simon D’Ujanga, who conducted feasibility studies for Nyagak I and III in the late 1990s, emphasized, “With 6.6 MW added, power outages in West Nile should be history. The focus now is attracting investors for industrial parks to utilize the region’s 90 MW capacity, far exceeding the 10 MW local demand, to drive job creation and development.”

An environmental assessment confirmed minimal ecological impact, ensuring sustainable operation.

Social Corporate Responsibilities 

However, local leaders raised concerns about unfulfilled corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments, including school construction, electrification of Agelemu trading center, and two footbridges over the Nyagak River, construction of a Health center III facility, road.

Dr. Nankabirwa responded, “Four boreholes are complete, one footbridge is finished, and the second is at 75% completion, delayed to avoid crop damage. The Paidha chiefdom hall, at ring beam level, will be commissioned in October 2025. A Health Centre III and classroom blocks are also in progress.”

On rural electrification, Nankabirwa affirmed Uganda’s goal of 100% electricity access by 2040, urging community support.

Zombo RDC Festus Ayikobua praised President Museveni and the community for providing land, encouraging continued backing for government initiatives.

According to UEGCL, the private consortium will transfer the station to UEGCL after 20 years.