The government has called on all power dam operators in the country to emulate Bujagali Energy Limited by developing comprehensive Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans (EPRPs) to prevent potential disasters.
The assistant commissioner for water resources, planning, and management at the Ministry of Water and Environment, Dominic Banaga Mucunguzi, urged operators to benchmark Bujagali Energy Limited’s newly implemented EPRP.
“If these dams are exposed to danger, their breakdown affects many people in the country. Let all stakeholders in the power industry take this matter seriously," he said, warning that weak safety management at power-generating facilities poses a national risk.
Speaking during a sensitisation meeting on Bujagali Energy Limited's hydropower plant EPRP in Jinja, Mucunguzi emphasized that every dam operator should have a functional EPRP in place to avert potential disasters.
He highlighted local leaders, police, and Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces officers as key communities in disaster management, playing frontline roles during evacuations.
While downplaying immediate threats from the current floods affecting parts of the country, Mucunguzi advised regular inspections of water gates and reservoirs, stressing their importance when river and lake levels rise.
The general manager of Bujagali Energy Limited, Alaister McDoughall, noted that digital alert systems have been installed at the plant to mitigate risks. He added that stakeholders are being sensitised on the safety measures included in the EPRP.
“We were recently in Kampala sensitising the public about the EPRP, and now we are here with the communities on the ground, preparing them on how to respond to risks," he said.
McDoughall explained that stakeholders are being guided on the specific actions to take in the event of an emergency at the dam.
The chief finance officer at Bujagali Energy Limited, Michael Taremwa Kananura, revealed that since launching the first-ever EPRP campaign in October, the company achieved its highest energy output of 149,335 MWh since commissioning in August 2012.
He also noted that the company recorded its lowest resultant tariff in eight years at Shs 25,802 (USD 6.79) cents, compared to the previous record low of Shs 23,636 (USD 6.22) cents in September 2018. This performance, he explained, is driven by increased domestic energy demand and higher exports to Kenya.
The head of safety at Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), Fredrick Wasike, which manages the Karuma Dam in northern Uganda as well as Kiira and Nalubaale dams in Jinja, emphasized that investing in an EPRP is far more cost-effective than managing disasters.
“Managing preparedness is cheaper than disaster handling. Just imagine the cost of putting up a signpost warning the public about risky areas at the dam compared to the expenditure of evacuation if there is a problem," he said.
Wasike called on all dam operators to continually assess their facilities to prevent catastrophes.
The government’s call comes as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen safety measures in Uganda’s hydropower sector and ensure sustainable energy generation without jeopardizing public safety.
