Namanve thermal power plant faces shutdown

The Namanve Thermal Power Plant, Uganda's only emergency power plant, is facing a potential shutdown in December 2025 due to inadequate funding.

Legislators on the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Environment expressed concerns over the government's failure to release shs19.6 billion , approved in the 2023/2024 supplementary budget, to replace obsolete machines at the plant.

"We are worried that if the shs60 billion  request is not considered in the upcoming supplementary schedule, the plant may shut down in December 2025," said Herbert Ariko, Chairperson of the Committee.

"This would have severe implications for Uganda's energy security."

Engineer Harrison Mutikanga, CEO of Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), revealed that a study conducted with the original equipment manufacturer, Wartsila, found many of the plant's systems to be obsolete and in need of replacement.

"We asked the government to allocate shs19.6 billion to replace these machines, but unfortunately, the funds were not released," Mutikanga said.

The plant, which has been operating at half capacity, has two broken-down engines, and failure to replace them may lead to a complete shutdown.

UEGCL has submitted a new request for shs60 billion  to procure critical spares, including shs22.4 billion  for corrective maintenance, shs22.4 billion for the Capex plan, shs12.97 billion  for outstanding capacity payment, shs3 billion  for operations and maintenance funding

The committee has vowed to push for the approval of the shs60 billion  request to ensure the stability of Uganda's energy sector.

With the plant's shutdown looming, the government must act swiftly to address the funding shortfall and prevent a potentially devastating impact on the country's energy security.