Uganda Isimba Hydropower Plant is scheduled to be launched next week

Uganda's electricity generation agency on Monday said plans are underway to commission the Chinese constructed Isimba Hydropower Plant in the central part of the country along River Nile.

Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) said in a statement that current physical progress of the 183 Megawatt Isimba power plant is estimated at 98.5 percent.

"For sure, the progress of the Isimba HPP (Hydropower Plant) is incredible," said Proscovia Njuki, chairperson Board of Directors UEGCL.

Njuki said the contractor, China Water and Electric Corporation Limited, has moved fast to ensure that three out of the four generating units are on the national grid.

She was concluding a routine appraisal of the 568 million U.S. dollars power plant located in Kayunga district.

According UEGCL, the power plant is scheduled to be launched on Jan. 24.

Construction of the plant started in 2015, after Uganda secured a loan from China Export Import Bank. Uganda got the loan to address the country's power shortage, which economic experts said was stalling economic development.