Uganda has taken another significant step towards strengthening its industrial power infrastructure following the arrival of three 80MVA transformers for the Kabalega Substation at Hoima Industrial Park.

The transformers, received by the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), are expected to play a critical role in expanding electricity capacity and improving power reliability in the Albertine region, where several strategic oil, gas and industrial projects are under development.

The delivery marks a major milestone in the construction of the Kabalega Substation, a 132/33kV facility being developed to serve the rapidly growing Kabalega Industrial Park and the wider oil and gas value chain in western Uganda.

According to UETCL, the substation is designed with three 80MVA transformers and will provide the high-voltage electricity required to support major industrial investments, including the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), petrochemical industries, and other large-scale installations within the region.

The Albertine region has emerged as the centre of Uganda’s energy transformation, hosting critical oil and gas infrastructure such as the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects, EACOP facilities, and the planned Uganda oil refinery. As these projects advance, demand for reliable electricity continues to increase, making transmission infrastructure a key enabler of industrial growth.

The Kabalega Industrial Park, located in Hoima District, is being developed as a strategic industrial hub that will accommodate oil and gas-related industries, logistics facilities, manufacturing operations, storage infrastructure and other value-addition investments. Government and industry stakeholders view the park as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation in the Albertine region.

The arrival of the transformers brings the Kabalega Substation closer to operational readiness and demonstrates ongoing efforts to ensure that power infrastructure keeps pace with Uganda’s industrial ambitions. Once installed and commissioned, the equipment will enhance grid stability, increase transmission capacity and support the reliable supply of electricity to industrial consumers.

Energy experts have consistently identified robust transmission infrastructure as one of the foundations of successful industrialisation. By investing in modern substations and high-capacity transformers, Uganda is positioning itself to meet the growing power needs of strategic sectors while improving energy security.

The development also aligns with UETCL’s broader mandate of expanding and strengthening the national transmission network to support industrial parks, manufacturing centres and emerging economic zones across the country.

As Uganda continues implementing major energy and industrial projects, the Kabalega Substation is expected to become a critical component of the infrastructure network powering the country’s next phase of economic transformation.

With the arrival of the transformers, Uganda moves a step closer to unlocking the full potential of the Albertine region and creating the electrical backbone required to support long-term industrial development, investment and sustainable economic growth.