Uganda People News: Bujagali project will not lead to reduced power prices

First published: 20120131 4:21:32 PM EST

State Minister for Energy Simon Dujang explains power issues to MPs.
State Minister for Energy Simon Dujang explains power issues to MPs.

Ultimate Media

The minister of state for energy Simon Dujang has asked Ugandans not to expect the commissioning of the 250 MW Bujagali power dam to lead to reduced power prices.

He says Ugandans will start receiving cheap power saying that they should prepare to get cheap power 13 years after April 2012.

The MPs on the committee of government assurance have tasked the minister of energy to explain why they can’t halt increasing the power tariffs until Bujagali starts producing power.

The Ms who include committee chair Aruu county MP Odonga Otto , Mbahimba John, Harriet Ntabazi asked the minister to explain so as to avoid increasing power tariffs. 

The minister s in response said that its impossible unless Government together with parliament finds an alternative source to subsidize the power prices as the government had been doing.

The Uganda Electricity Regulatory Authority announced new power tariffs effective January 15th after the government cut off the subsidies it had been giving to power distributor UMEME.