MPs have appealed to government  to enter into negotiations with the management of Bujagali hydro power project so that they can reach an arrangement that will enable power tariff to be affordable to every household in the Country.

The chairperson of the Natural Resources Committee, Alex Byarugaba.

The Chairperson Natural Resources Committee, Alex Byarugaba, says that power tariffs have been raising just because Government has less control given that Bujagali the biggest suppliers are in the hands of private sector and cannot control it.

Byarugaba who is the Member of Parliament for Isingiro South said that government should have talks with the management of Bujagali to forge a way forward about how to bring down the cost of electricity at a fordable rate.

He noted that Bujagali hydropower project was constructed using prevent money with some little assistance from Government and was given about 20 years to recoup its capital input.
He said Uganda currently is paying high power tariffs compared to other countries but assured Ugandans such problems will end after completion of Isimba dam and others.

An aerial view of the Bujagali Hydropower Plant in Uganda.

According to revised power tariffs, households that use more than 15 units of electricity each month pays 531shillings, from 518.7shillings, for each unit.
The commercial consumers, such as millers and welders, pay 485.1 shillings for pick hour and 602.2shillings (6pm to 11pm), up from 472.5shilling per unit.

Large industrial consumers pay Shs316.4 (5am to 6pm), Shs383.5 (6pm to 11pm) and Shs233 for each unit used between 11pm to 5am, up from Shs308.5.