West Nile Is Finally Connected To The National Grid, What Next?
The energized Nebbi substation
OPINION: On Friday, August 2, 2024, the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) announced on its X handle (Twitter) that it is a wrap! Arua is officially connected to the national grid and is already benefiting from UETCL’s promise of stable and reliable power supply as West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo) Uganda has successfully been interconnected to the grid.
The announcement was a day after energizing the 132kv/33kv Nebbi substation to ensure everything is on track ahead of the planned commissioning of the West Nile region to the national grid. President Yoweri Museveni is expected to preside over the historic commissioning ceremony at Nebbi Secondary School playground on Saturday, August 3, 2024.
It is indeed a major milestone for West Nile to finally get connected to the National Grid of Electricity. This comes at a time when the country is generating surplus electricity and seeking interconnection with the neighboring East African countries.
This means West Nile will begin to enjoy its strategic location for industrialization. There is no better place for establishing factories for manufacturing various industrial products destined for Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, South Sudan and Sudan than West Nile.
The region should therefore prepare for industrial boom that will create enormous employment opportunities for the third fastest growing population of Uganda, according to the latest population census. This will translate into increased household income earnings, poverty reduction, improved standard of living and increased life expectancy.
I can say without doubt in my mind that the real social economic transformation of West Nile is now set to begin. I wish to recognize our fore leaders like the late Bishop Emeritus Frederick Drandua, late Hon Dick Nyai, late Rt Hon Francis Ayume to mention but a few and many others; living and the dead for the persistent and steady advocacy for connecting the region to the National Grid, an effort that we picked up and ensured that it is delivered as we are set to witness.
Our story line can now change, the peace dividends of the 1980-86 National Resistance Army (NRA) struggle can now begin to flow in West Nile.
Allow me to thank H. E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for fulfilling this long-standing strategic pledge to the people of West Nile, something no other regime ever thought of but his National Resistance Movement (NRM) led government.
Viva West Nile Viva, Viva NRM Viva, Viva H. E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Viva, Viva Atiku Bernard Viva, Viva Ayivu Viva, Viva Arua City Viva. We give the glory to God!
The writer is the Arua City Land Board Chairperson and the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayivu County.
Though after 38 years wait we can still say thank you. I hope it will not be with strings attached.