By URN
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has officially commissioned the 6.6-megawatt Nyagak III Hydropower Dam in Zombo District, a major development aimed at propelling industrialization across the West Nile region.
Constructed for USD 20 million under a public-private partnership, the project adds to the region’s existing 3.5-megawatt Nyagak I dam, which began operations in 2011. The two projects now bring the region’s total power output to 11.5 megawatts.
This capacity is expected to support electricity demands for factories, domestic consumption, and institutional development across 13 districts, including Arua City, which borders the Ituri province of northeastern DR Congo and the Equatoria region of South Sudan.
Government officials say the new output has already been synchronized to the 132kV national grid substation located in Thatha Division, Nebbi Municipality. This substation receives transmission from the 600-megawatt Karuma Dam via the Olwiyo substation in Nwoya District.
The grand commissioning of the Nyagak III dam took place on August 1, 2025, officiated by the Minister of Energy, Ruth Nankabirwa. She was accompanied by senior government officials, Alur Kingdom Prime Minister Prince Lawrence Angala, local leaders, and community members, including former State Minister for Energy, Eng. Simon Giu D’Ujanga.
Minister Nankabirwa applauded the milestone, assuring residents that remaining works under the project’s corporate social responsibility component would be completed by October. She added that President Museveni is expected to officiate that event in person.
The Minister also praised Eng. D’Ujanga for his leadership and role in mobilizing community support for electricity expansion in the region. In his remarks, Eng. D’Ujanga called on investors to tap into the growing industrial potential of West Nile, now backed by a reliable electricity supply.
Zombo Resident District Commissioner, Festus Ayikobua, commended President Museveni for extending development to West Nile and praised the community for embracing transformative government projects like Nyagak III. He encouraged residents to harness the new electricity supply to further their education and engage in income-generating activities.
