In a groundbreaking development, the arrival of a seven-kilometre power submarine cable in Kalangala District marks a pivotal moment for islanders, signaling an end to decades of power outages.
The cable, the first of its kind in Uganda, is set to evacuate electricity from Masaka District to Buggala Island, offering hope for reliable power beginning next year.
Kalangala District chairperson Rajab Ssemakula expressed optimism about the project, stating, “A major milestone has been reached for islanders who have endured power outages for decades.”
The cable’s arrival has raised hopes for reliable power, prompting expectations of the return of closed factories due to unreliable power.
Buggala Islanders, who pay different power tariffs compared to mainland customers, anticipate relief from what they consider exorbitant costs.
Domestic customers in Kalangala are currently charged Shs1,213.2 per kWh, while commercial customers pay Shs1,608.6 per kWh for this quarter.
Eddy Kisekka, the proprietor of Eddy’s Pork Palace and Bar in Kalangala Town Council, expressed optimism about the area’s development, emphasizing the need for a swift cable installation to avoid reliance on generators.
Samuel Kwesiga, an administrator at Radio Ssese FM, highlighted the potential cost reduction in maintaining equipment once connected to the mainland’s electricity.
The Shs32 billion project, part of the Uganda Rural Electricity Access project, experienced delays but is now underway with CCC (Beijing) Industrial and Commercial Company Ltd leading the initiative.
The power submarine cable, complementing the 1.6-megawatt solar power plant operated by Kalangala Infrastructure Services (KIS), is expected to enhance development in the region.