By Ben Ssebuguzi
The word iconic gets thrown out a lot, but I want to confirm that the Karuma Dam project is a true description of iconic given its modern architecture and international style. If you want to understand midcentury modern architecture, just spend some time ogling at Karuma, you will appreciate its landscape and the developments therein.
Mere too much gazing can as well drive natural satisfaction given it’s spewing green zones around it. Much as it was riddled with delays of over 7 years, Africa’s largest underground hydropower station on the Kyoga Nile river, which seats on 465.5 hectares of land has cost approximately USD 1.7b and has employed over 5000 Ugandans and 1000 Chinese.
The renewable energy infrastructure project which was commissioned by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on September 26, 2024, will be adding 600MW of clean renewable power to our National grid which will now bring down the cost of power to businesses hence more prosperity.
What makes the project more iconic is the beautiful and charming 100 housing units including bungalows, apartments, office blocks and laboratories hence making it a fully-fledged complex and motivating to people working there.
Additionally, the project has a canteen, visitors centre, clubhouse and guest house hence making the Karuma project one of the most desirable and enduring projects for Ugandans especially when General Museveni has just celebrated his 80th birthday. This could be taken as a gift in memory of his outstanding leadership and stewardship.
The largest power generation installation project in the country also includes the construction of Kawanda, Karuma and Olwiyo substations will now make power evacuation easy. Currently, Uganda produces about 2000MW.
I therefore take my special appreciation to General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for redrawing the plan and enhancing the capacity of the dam from previously 200MW to 750MW although later it was scaled down to 600MW. If you were a weak soul and not a battle-hardened General of the resistance, We would not attain get that full potential since the project received scepticism by countries that use the Nile River for their prosperity and livelihood.
Long live Gen Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and thank you for the sacrifices, Long live SPA Hajjat Uzeiye Namyalo
The writer is the Head of Research at Office of the National Chairman (ONC) Kyambogo
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