Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has commissioned two electricity projects worth more than Shs240 million in Butebo District, aimed at improving power access for education, agro-processing and other economic activities.
The projects were implemented by the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) and commissioned over the weekend in Petete Sub-county during a thanksgiving ceremony for Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Monica Musenero.
One of the projects involved extending the electricity distribution network to Petete Primary School, which had been wired but was not connected to the national grid.
The extension also connected Petete Church, nearby homes and the Petete Town Council offices. UEDCL installed a new transformer as part of the works.
The second project involved installing a 100kVA transformer at a mini-industrial park under construction in Kabarekere Village, near St Paul High School.
According to UEDCL, the industrial park had previously depended on a 25kVA single-phase transformer located about 600 metres away. The existing infrastructure could not meet the park’s projected electricity demand of 48kW.
UEDCL Managing Director Eng Joselynne Rwabwogo said the new transformer was installed in anticipation of increased demand from commercial activities and agro-processing.
“With growing commercial activity and agro-processing in the area, we anticipate increased electricity demand. We have therefore installed a new 100kVA transformer to provide the capacity needed to support industrial and agro-processing activities,” she said.
Nabbanja said reliable electricity was important to improving learning conditions, supporting value addition and creating employment opportunities.
“Access to reliable electricity is key to improving education, supporting agro-processing and creating jobs for our people,” she said.
She thanked UEDCL for extending the grid to Petete Primary School and providing power infrastructure for the industrial park, saying the projects would contribute to Butebo’s development.
The Prime Minister also urged residents to use the new electricity connections to invest in commercial agriculture, agro-processing and other businesses rather than relying solely on subsistence farming.
Rwabwogo said the projects were part of UEDCL’s efforts to address electricity reliability challenges across the country.
She said the company was engaging local leaders and other stakeholders to identify gaps in electricity services and gather feedback on areas requiring intervention.
The new infrastructure is expected to strengthen electricity supply around Petete and provide additional capacity for the planned industrial park as commercial and agro-processing activities expand.
