Sweden Reaffirms Uganda Energy Partnership as Karuma–Tororo Project Begins

What the report says

Sweden has reaffirmed its support for Uganda’s energy sector as construction starts on the Karuma–Tororo 400kV transmission line, a project meant to improve power delivery to eastern Uganda and the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. The pledge came from Sweden’s Ambassador to Uganda, Anna-Maria Olsson, who said the partnership reflects broader cooperation in energy infrastructure, renewable power, technical support and financing.

According to the report, the project will run for about 346 kilometres, linking the 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Plant to a new substation near the Uganda-Kenya border in Tororo. It also includes related substations and a 132/33kV substation at Ntinda in Kampala. Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited says the line is intended to strengthen the national grid, improve reliability of supply and support electricity trade with neighbouring countries.

The article says the project is part of Uganda’s wider effort to match growing power generation with stronger transmission capacity. That matters because weak grid infrastructure can limit how quickly electricity reaches homes, businesses and industry. Sweden also pointed to the role of companies and financial partners involved in the scheme, including Standard Chartered Bank, while its export credit agency, EKN, has separately indicated it was considering support tied to equipment financing.

More broadly, the partnership highlights continued foreign involvement in Uganda’s power sector, especially in areas such as grid expansion, renewable energy and capacity building.