President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his Tanzanian counterpart, Suluhu Samia have commissioned the Kikagati-Murongo Transboundary Hydropower Plant in Isingiro District.
The 14 Megawatts project is located on the Kagera River, a natural border between the two countries.
“I welcome my sister and counterpart, Samia Suluhu who has joined me to commission the Kikagati-Murongo Hydropower plant. I want to congratulate Hassan and Magufuli [Late Tanzanian president] because we are finally beginning to use River Kagera the way it should be used,” said Museveni at the ceremony telecast live on UBC.
“I am authorizing here now, if Tanzania wants all the 16 MW from Kikagati, they should take it all, for as long as they can pay for it. I have no problem whatsoever with exporting our electricity to the neighbors that want to pay for it,” said President Museveni.
“We need cheap electricity, especially for manufacturing. There is no way we can have expensive electricity and then you want us to get out of poverty.”
The Kikagati-Murongo power project is a low-head, run on River Kagera, along Uganda’s international border with neighboring Tanzania.
On her part, Hassan said the power plant will provide reliable and affordable electricity to Tanzania to spur economic development and promote regional cooperation. “I must say that the power generated here is going to improve a number of aspects in this region, including business, communication and social engagements,” she said at the event.
