Kampala — WORK on the 250MW Bujagali hydro-power project in Jinja is on course.

An on-spot visit to the project by Business Vision last week found that significant progress has been made on the project that started two years back.

"The basement is complete and we are now building where the electrical equipment will be installed. Mechanical works will start soon," Glenn Gaydar, the project director, explained.

The power house that will consist of the control room and the five units where the turbines and generator sets will be installed is visible and nears completion. The $860m hydro-power facility consists of a 28 metre-high earth-filled dam and spill-way works and associated power station housing five-50MW turbines.

Apart from the hydro-power power project, an interconnection power transmission line that will connect power from the Bujagali project to the national grid is also being put up.

The sub-station has been completed and is awaiting the installation of electrical equipment and transformers.

When completed, Bujagali will reduce power deficit in the country and reliance on the costly thermal power generation.

Uganda has the region's most expensive electricity, largely on account of its reliance on diesel-fueled thermal power plants. The Government hopes that the 250MW power dam will substantially plug the supply deficit, estimated at over 300MW.

The project is funded by the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank.

Work started in 2007 and is expected to take 44 months.