VP Alupo urges Ugandans to leverage electricity for enhancing household income.
With the ongoing initiative of free electricity connection nationwide, Ugandans have been urged to capitalize on government schemes to venture into commercial activities and uplift their families’ welfare.
The Vice President, Rtd. Maj. Jessica Alupo, during her recent visit before heading to West Nile to inaugurate electricity projects, advised the Ugandans to actively support various governmental initiatives like PDM, UWEF, OWC, and Emyooga to elevate their economic status.
Alupo emphasized the importance of backing government programs aimed at rural development, highlighting the significance of utilizing electricity for entrepreneurial endeavors such as establishing small businesses like salons, grinding machine operations, and refrigeration services.
She stressed that by taking advantage of the power supply, rural inhabitants could save a minimum of 5,000 shillings daily.
Furthermore, Alupo encouraged engagement in agriculture and poultry farming, particularly through cost-effective free-range methods.
She discouraged youth involvement in vices such as drinking, gambling, or substance abuse, urging them to steer clear of criminal activities and focus on building a sustainable livelihood.
The government’s commitment to expanding electricity access across both rural and urban areas in Uganda was reiterated by Alupo.
During her visit to Arua, she inaugurated the 132kV/33kV Arua Power Substation to bolster the electricity supply in the West Nile region.
By connecting this region to the national grid, power can be drawn from key projects like Karuma, Agago/Achwa, and Nyagak I and III, fostering economic growth, improving livelihoods, and stimulating industrial development in the area.
Alupo underscored the pivotal role of energy development in industrialization, advanced agricultural production, and reducing business operation costs.
She emphasized the government’s efforts to enhance energy availability and consumption nationwide, including the initiation of a Nuclear Energy Programme in Buyende District to cater to various sectors like health, trade, agriculture, and power generation.
The Vice President highlighted the significant progress made in power generation, transitioning from a mere 60 megawatts in 1986 to over 2,000MW capacity with the commissioning of Karuma and Isimba Hydropower Plants.
She emphasized the need for additional generation capacity to meet the escalating demand due to industrialization, emphasizing the importance of scaling up investments in new power generation projects.
Alupo also noted the expansion of electricity transmission capacity and distribution networks to support industrial and mining centers, emphasizing the implementation of the Parish Development Model.
She called upon leaders to mobilize communities to leverage the reliable power supply for producing goods and services in sectors like Commercial Agriculture, Industries, Services, and ICT to drive Uganda’s transformation into a modern economy.
In conclusion, Alupo stressed the significance of utilizing existing socio-economic infrastructure to create job opportunities and wealth for households, thereby combating poverty and transitioning from subsistence farming to modern economic activities.
She urged leaders to guide individuals in selecting enterprises within key sectors for profitable business ventures, ensuring sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
The Kole-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua 132kv transmission line, financed by the World Bank and the Ugandan government, aims to reinforce power supply to the West Nile region and integrate it with the national grid, marking a pivotal moment in the region’s history with stable and industrially reliable electricity.
