energy 25 August 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Karuma Dam Contractor Seeks Extra Shs148 Billion for Defect Rectification
Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, the contractor for the Karuma Hydropower Station, is requesting an additional $40 million (Shs147.9 billion) to address ongoing defects that are hindering the dam's safety and operational efficiency. The request comes amidst concerns raised by parliamentary committees and audit reports regarding the accumulation of water weeds and debris. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/karuma-dam-contractor-wants-additional-shs148b-to-fix-defects-5570110
The Chinese contractor responsible for building Uganda’s Karuma Hydropower Station, Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, has submitted a proposal seeking an additional Shs147.9 billion ($40 million) to rectify defects that continue to affect the dam’s performance. The request is currently under review by a government technical committee.
According to the State Minister for Energy, Sidronius Osaasaazi, the committee comprises engineers from various ministries to thoroughly assess the contractor’s proposal and determine if the requested funds represent good value for money. The evaluation will also consider whether the problems at the dam have evolved since the project’s inception in 2013.
Parliamentary members on the Committee of Environment and Natural Resources have expressed concerns about the persistent issue of water weeds and debris clogging the dam’s intake screens. This accumulation significantly restricts the dam’s power generation capacity, especially during the rainy season. The problem is exacerbated by the absence of log boom lines, which were swept away in 2019 and have not been reinstalled, despite being a part of the dam’s original design.
An audit report from the Auditor General also highlighted that all three inspected hydropower plants (Karuma, Isimba, and Nalubaale) lacked adequate floating booms, leading to substantial weed accumulation at their intake points. The report warned that if these defects are not addressed promptly, the dam could face reduced safety, operational disruptions, and increased future maintenance costs.
Officials from Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL) confirmed that the dam cannot operate at its full capacity due to choked units. Sinohydro Corporation Ltd, however, disputes responsibility for the water weed issue, arguing that the problem is more complex than initially anticipated, with weeds originating from upstream areas like Lake Kyoga. The contractor’s proposal includes comprehensive measures for weed management both upstream and downstream.
Parliamentary committee chairperson Dan Kimosho has indicated that both UEGCL and Sinohydro will be summoned to Parliament to provide concrete answers and ensure urgent solutions are implemented. The Karuma Hydropower Dam, with a capacity of 600 MW, was commissioned in September 2024.