Kampala — THE World Bank Group's managing director, Dr. Juan Jose Daboub, has said the bank will support the energy sector through provision of finance for the 50MW thermal generation plant.

"Uganda has a big challenge regarding power generation. The bank will help through financing and we will be presenting to the board hopefully before the year ends, one of the plans for the 50MW thermal plant," he said.

Addressing a press conference in Kampala on Monday at the end a two-day visit, Daboub said the bank was working with the Government to provide technical assistance for the proposed Bujagali hydro electric power plant.

Flanked by the World Bank country representative, Grace Yabrudy, Daboub said the two projects were critical because the power deficit impacts negatively on private sector competitiveness by increasing business costs.

"The fact that only 5% of the population has access to power is a great challenge. There is a great potential for power generation that will alleviate the current crisis and we will support that," he said.

The World Bank boss on a maiden trip to Africa, denied the bank had a "one size fits all" approach on conditionalities.

"We do not have a mathematical equation to address in the same way the problems of each country. We only have experience and knowledge that we share with a country and the country has to decide which way it wants to go," Daboub said.