President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned Nyagak hydro- power station located in Zombo district with a call to the people of West Nile Region to seize the opportunity of the utility now at their disposal to develop both their area and also increase their house- hold income.
The 3.5 Mega Watt hydro-power dam cost US$18.5 million and was constructed in a partnership deal between the Government of Uganda and that of Germany which contributed US$12 million. Also in this partnership programme was the West Nile Region (WENRE) Company, a subsidiary of the Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) an arm of the Aga Khan Development Network.
The independent power plant will supply electricity to the people of West Nile who, for long, have been depending on thermo power. West Nile Region in stashed up in North Western Uganda, comprises the districts of Arua, Nebbi, Zombo, Moyo, Adjumani, Koboko, Yumbe and Maracha-Terego with a combined total population of nearly 2 million.
President Museveni hailed the government of Germany and all the other stake holders for supporting the project. He advised the people of the region to double their efforts in agricultural production and use the electricity, now at their disposal, to add value to their agricultural produce that would in turn go a long way in improving household income.
The Charge d'Affaires of the German Embassy in Uganda, Mr. Joachim Duster, congratulated the Government of Uganda and all stake holders, for the achievement adding that the utility will not only boost business in the West Nile Region but will also provide an opportunity for job creation and boost trade between the people of the area and those in the neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of South Sudan.
The Director of KWF Development Bank of Germany, Mr. Dove, disclosed that the German government is to partner up with the Government of Uganda in the development of a second hydro-power plant on Nyagak River that will generate an additional 4.4 Mega Watts of electricity. He reported that Germany will also support the Government of Uganda in the distribution of electricity to all towns of the West Nile region.
President Museveni inspected the dam, toured the power house which he commissioned, switched on power and performed the ground breaking ceremony for the distribution of electricity to the entire region of West Nile.The historic ceremony was attended by the King of the Alur, Rwoth Obimo the 3rd, Ministers, MPs and district officials from the West Nile Region.
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