The Ugandan government will use the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to build the first Lake Victoria power submarine cable to transport electricity from Masaka District (inland) to Bugala Island through Bukakata.

The Lake Victoria Power Submarine Cable Project will be implemented by an engineering company under the Engineering Department of China Wire and Cable Import and Export Corporation, and the Uganda Rural Electrification Bureau will supervise the implementation of the project. The scope of work includes surveying, structural point mapping, line profile analysis and fixing, procurement, delivery to the site, and laying a 33 kV 7 km long submarine cable at the bottom of Lake Victoria and two 33 in Bukakata and Bugoma. Kilovolt substation, and 27 distribution transformers.

Other tasks include the construction of medium and low voltage networks, the installation of distribution transformers and protection equipment, and the installation of last-mile connections, including the provision of service cables to approximately 1,651 potential consumers, and the installation of prepaid electricity meters and power distribution panels.

Project funding

The African Development Bank is funding the Uganda Rural Power Access Project, which aims to expand the medium-voltage and low-voltage power distribution network covering 16 regions and 5 service areas, providing consumers with last-mile connectivity.

The submarine cable will complement the 1.6 MW (per hour) solar power plant operated by Kalangala Infrastructure Services, a public-private partnership between the government and private infrastructure development companies (ie InfraCo Africa).

Patricia Litho, Cooperative Communication and Community Affairs Officer of the Rural Electrification Bureau, said that the project is not to compete with Kalangala infrastructure services, but to provide reliable services to the Kalangala community.Editor/Huang Lijun