President Yoweri Museveni has officially inaugurated the Karuma hydropower plant, Uganda’s largest power generation facility. Located on the Kyoga Nile River, about 270 kilometers north of Kampala, the plant has a capacity of 600MW, generated by six turbines. The new facility, inaugurated on 26 September 2024, boosts Uganda’s power generation capacity from 1400MW to 2000MW, a significant step toward meeting the country’s growing energy needs.
The project, which began in 2016, has been a key component in Uganda’s efforts to ensure a stable power supply for both domestic and industrial use. AFRY, an international engineering and design company, has been involved since the project’s inception. Initially serving as a Strategic Project Management Consultant, AFRY later assumed the role of Owner’s Engineer in 2019, overseeing the plant’s construction and commissioning.
In June 2024, AFRY issued a Certificate of Completion to Sinohydro Corporation Ltd., the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the project. This marked the beginning of the plant’s operations and its integration into Uganda’s national power grid.
Speaking on the completion of the project, Victor de Genot de Nieukerken, Karuma Project Director at AFRY, said, “As we celebrate the commissioning and operation of the Karuma hydropower plant, we are proud to be part of the team that helped deliver a reliable power supply for Uganda’s communities and industries. The dedication of the AFRY team, combining expertise from both Switzerland and Uganda, with many relocating to the site, has been instrumental in this achievement.”
The Karuma Hydro Power Plant, a run-of-river facility, uses vertical Francis turbines, each capable of generating 100MW. The project is expected to improve power reliability across Uganda and support the country’s economic development.
This facility represents a significant milestone in Uganda’s energy infrastructure, contributing to its long-term sustainability and growth.
