Officials sign partnership agreements
By Our Reporter
Uganda’s electricity sector is set for a major shift as Gridworks and the Government of Uganda move the Amari Power Transmission project into its construction phase, positioning the country at the forefront of private sector participation in power transmission in Africa.
Following the signing of two critical agreements with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited on Feb.3, the US$50 million Amari project will soon begin construction, becoming the first independent transmission project on the continent to reach this stage. The development signals growing confidence in private financing models to support Africa’s expanding power infrastructure needs.
The project will upgrade the transforming capacity of four high-voltage substations located at strategic points on Uganda’s national grid, strengthening electricity supply to industrial users and supporting the country’s industrialisation agenda. By improving grid capacity and reliability, Amari is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Uganda’s manufacturing sector while creating room for additional renewable energy generation and future regional power interconnections.
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Officials sign partnership agreements
By Our Reporter
Uganda’s electricity sector is set for a major shift as Gridworks and the Government of Uganda move the Amari Power Transmission project into its construction phase, positioning the country at the forefront of private sector participation in power transmission in Africa.
Following the signing of two critical agreements with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited on Feb.3, the US$50 million Amari project will soon begin construction, becoming the first independent transmission project on the continent to reach this stage. The development signals growing confidence in private financing models to support Africa’s expanding power infrastructure needs.
The project will upgrade the transforming capacity of four high-voltage substations located at strategic points on Uganda’s national grid, strengthening electricity supply to industrial users and supporting the country’s industrialisation agenda. By improving grid capacity and reliability, Amari is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Uganda’s manufacturing sector while creating room for additional renewable energy generation and future regional power interconnections.
Beyond improving power supply, the project is designed to support rising electricity demand, reduce system losses and improve overall power quality across the network. Construction is expected to generate employment opportunities, while the project’s development has already contributed to the establishment of a regulatory framework aimed at attracting further private investment into grid infrastructure.
Gridworks Chief Executive Officer Chris Flavin said the project reflects a shared commitment between the company and the Government of Uganda to prioritise strategic transmission investments that underpin long-term economic growth. He noted that moving into construction demonstrates the viability of private transmission models and sets a precedent for similar investments across the region.
Energy and Mineral Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa said the project aligns with the government’s broader goals of industrialisation, regional integration and economic expansion, adding that the partnership with Gridworks reflects Uganda’s readiness to embrace innovative approaches to infrastructure development.
The Amari project will deliver upgrades at four substations: Tororo 220kV in eastern Uganda near the Kenyan border, Nkenda 132kV in western Uganda at the planned interconnection with the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Mbarara North 132kV and Mbarara South 220kV stations in western Uganda. These upgrades are expected to strengthen cross-border power trade and improve grid resilience.
Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited Chief Executive Officer Eng. Richard Matsiko described the partnership as transformative, noting that it is expected to deliver tangible improvements to the national grid and support future expansion.
Across the continent, governments are increasingly turning to private partners to bridge financing gaps in power transmission, with regulatory reforms opening the door for new investment. Gridworks’ growing portfolio reflects this trend, with projects under development in Uganda, Mozambique and Ethiopia, alongside off-grid and distributed power initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As Uganda prepares for construction to begin in the coming weeks, the Amari Power Transmission project is emerging not only as a critical infrastructure investment, but also as a model for how public–private partnerships can help build resilient, future-ready power systems across Africa.
