The Inspector General of Government (IGG) Betty Kamya has launched an investigation into allegations of substandard work by the contractors responsible for the Isimba Hydropower Plant in Kayunga District.
Leading a team from her office, Ms. Kamya conducted an inspection of the dam site today, Friday, 25th April 2025. This action follows numerous complaints received by the IGG’s office concerning the quality of work undertaken at the critical infrastructure project.
During the inspection, Engineer Harrison Mutikanga, the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL), briefed the IGG on the concerning state of the Isimba Dam. Eng. Mutikanga stated that the dam faces a significant risk of further deterioration and potential collapse due to what he described as poor-quality repair work carried out by the contractor, China International Water and Electric Corporation.
According to this Publication, he highlighted the contractor’s failure to meet multiple revised completion deadlines since the original 2019 target. Despite these extensions, Eng. Mutikanga indicated a lack of substantial progress as the latest deadline approaches.
Concerns about spillway defects at Isimba Dam were initially brought to the attention of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Following these reports, it was decided that the spillway issues would undergo a Physical Model Test (PMT) in China. This test aims to identify the fundamental causes of the structural problems and determine the necessity of constructing a third spillway.
UEGCL emphasized the critical nature of the PMT in understanding the defects and implementing appropriate solutions. The results from the 1:20 scale model test are expected to pinpoint the root cause of the spillway deficiencies, while the 1:40 scale model test will assess whether an additional spillway is required to meet the dam’s discharge capacity.
In addition to the PMT, a technical team has been tasked with evaluating the necessary measures to create dry working conditions to facilitate thorough inspections and repairs.
Under an accelerated work program, the contractor was instructed to revise the Master Completion Schedule, incorporating all feedback from the owner’s engineer, and submit a final, approved version to the employer by April 30, 2025.
Hon. Sidronius Okasaai, the Minister of State for Energy, indicated that the costs associated with resolving the dam’s issues could potentially reach approximately US $150 million. He cautioned that this figure could fluctuate depending on the actual conditions discovered on the ground.
Minister Okasaai stressed the potential consequences of the dam’s instability, particularly concerning the spillway and the overall completion of the project. He warned of potential negative impacts on the national electricity supply in the near future if the 183 megawatts generated by Isimba Dam are taken offline.
The investigation by the IGG is expected to shed more light on the alleged substandard work and the measures needed to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of the Isimba Hydropower Plant, a crucial component of Uganda’s energy infrastructure.
