President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is willing to award more contracts to a Chinese Firm- China International Water and Electricity Corporation (CWE) which successfully constructed a shs 2 trillion project Isimba Dam, in kayunga District.
The dam built on River Nile, that covers four districts of Jinja, Kayunga, Buikwe and Kamuli will produce 183MW of electricity.
Museveni commissioned the the power station on Thursday amid excitement and thereafter heaped praises on Chinese government for being a reliable partner to Uganda.
Isimba dam that cost $556 million saw government of Uganda borrow a loan from Chinese Bank- Exim which covered 85% while Uganda raised 15% of the total cost.
During the launch which was held at the site in Kayunga, Museveni who referred to as the contractor as ‘small’ however, said was surprised that it could handle such a huge project.
“I said let me give this small company a small job. But since it has delivered some good work, I still have many projects for them,” said the Presidennt.
China Water undertook the construction which lasted for 47 months. Isimba is now the 3rd largest power plant in the country, and has helped to increase power generation in Uganda to 1,167MW up from the previous 984MW.
Minister of Energy Irene Mulono said a unit of power from Isimba will cost 4.1 American cents in the first 6 years.