Experts worried as Isimba Dam spillway damages unrepaired as rains loom

What the report says

Officials and engineers in Uganda are again warning about unresolved defects at Isimba Hydropower Plant in Jinja as the rainy season approaches. According to The Independent Uganda, concerns focus on the dam’s spillway, which is a key safety feature because it must release excess water when river levels rise. The report says the spillway has suffered concrete erosion, damaged buffer blocks and gaps in slabs, and that engineers believe it may not safely handle the full design flow.

The article says government officials led by Engineer Badru Kiggundu and managers from Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL) recently revisited the 183-megawatt plant to follow up on repairs that are supposed to be carried out by China International Water and Electric Corporation (CIWE), the project contractor. The meeting was held behind closed doors, and the outcome was not made public. The publication reports that the parties remain concerned about continuing erosion, while UEGCL has previously said the damage could worsen if heavy rains increase water flows.

The Independent Uganda also notes that this is not a new issue. Emergency repairs were attempted after flooding in 2022, and later inspections found further damage. In 2025, officials said the spillway could discharge less than 40% of its design capacity without creating dangerous vibrations. More technical meetings were held in May 2026 to review emergency works and discuss longer-term rehabilitation.

The situation matters because the plant is still generating electricity, but that does not remove the safety concerns around the spillway. The report adds that the government has not issued a completion certificate because outstanding defects remain unresolved, and that financial guarantees are still in place to protect its interests.