The Ugandan Government has commissioned some flagship energy projects for the rural West of the country and launched its Connections Policy. The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) being the key partner in this sector, offered concessional loans of respectively USD 23M and EUR 42.9 M to the Government of Uganda. The company financed part of the Nkenda-Hoima transmission line and its associated substations as well as a broad rural electrification program in Western and Southern Uganda. AFD is also contributing to the Connections Policy, first by having taken part in the dialogue that led to the design of the Policy, and financing one of the pilot projects to subsidize connections, in accordance with this Policy. According to Virginie Leroy, AFD Representative in Uganda: “France, via AFD, the Agence Française de Développement, proves and has proven for the last 20 years, to be a key partner for Uganda’s development. After having supported the necessary increase of the national generation capacity that significantly improved power reliability and affordability in Uganda, AFD supports the Government of Uganda in improving transmission, distribution and increasing access. By promoting renewable energy we support both the Ugandan population and climate change resilience,” she said. The project is co-financed by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. The Nkenda-Hoima line and associated substations are in agreement with Uganda’s overall energy policy to meet the energy needs of the population for social and economic development.

Source: chimpreports.com