The new Gulu upgraded substation (PHOTO/Courtesy) GULU —Northern Uganda has experienced unprecedented growth over the past years which has come along with increasing demand for electricity.
Given the escalating thirst for electricity, Umeme and other sector players including UETCL, UEDCL and REA are undertaking critical projects to improve supply reliability in the region.
John Baptist Magulu Umeme’s Customer Service Engineer said they have doubled Gulu substations capacity from 5 MW 10MW to cope with growing demand.
“We are focusing our investments on upgrading the network to improve electricity reliability. The line from Lira to Gulu and Kitgum is being refurbished including installation of concrete poles in swampy areas,” Magulu noted.
The Company is also investing in equipment that will ensure faults in third party networks do not affect Umeme’s grid.
Besides Umeme, there are two utilities that are implementing projects aimed at improving power supply in northern Uganda.
UETCL is left with 20 kilometres to complete replacing the 64-year-old 300-kilometre-long wooden pole line between Lira and Tororo District in eastern Uganda with pylons. Towers are less susceptible to the elements.
The company also is stringing a high voltage line from Karuma Hydro Power Project to Lira. Once completed, it will mitigate the impact of faults that might happen between Tororo and Lira. Additionally, UETCL will put up a substation in Koro.
And once the government avails funds, and the utility secures the Right of Way, UETCL will construct lines, too, from the Achwa to Gulu and Kitgum as well as extend the transmission grid from Lira through Gulu, Nebbi to Arua.
In the meantime, UEDCL has constructed a line from the 41MW Achwa to Umeme’s substation in Gulu while Umeme has provided a bay.
Up to 90% distribution projects are complete and the remaining work will be concluded by end of March 2021.