The Uganda Electricity Generation Company Ltd (UEGCL) has warned about a growing Isimba Dam failure risk. Serious defects at the $568 million hydropower plant remain unresolved. If not urgently repaired, the dam could collapse within five years. Built to last a century, Isimba Dam is now struggling just six years after its commissioning. UEGCL Chief Executive Officer Harrison Mutikanga said delays by the contractor, China International Water and Electricity Corporation (CIWEC), are putting the dam and nearby communities at risk.
Isimba Dam was built under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract. This agreement placed full project responsibility on CIWEC, from design to completion. Problems appeared early. In July 2022, a worker mistakenly opened the wrong gate, causing a flood that submerged four floors. Later inspections revealed cracks and severe erosion in the spillway concrete. Emergency underwater repairs were attempted but proved ineffective. By December 2022, new assessments showed the Isimba Dam failure risk had only worsened.
While the dam still generates power, its structural health remains under threat. Mutikanga explained that working turbines hide deeper dangers. Water leaking into the foundation could cause hydraulic pressure to lift concrete slabs. This would trigger backward erosion and possibly destroy the dam. He warned that the spillway remains the biggest safety concern. Without urgent intervention, a full collapse could happen.
UEGCL has threatened to terminate CIWEC’s contract if the contractor fails to act quickly. Mutikanga criticized the repeated extensions given without real progress. He stressed that delays are unacceptable when public safety is at stake. Government officials have been monitoring the site closely, but frustration continues to grow over the slow repairs.
During a recent inspection, Inspector General of Government (IGG) Beti Kamya expressed serious concerns. She criticized the lack of proper oversight in awarding and supervising EPC contracts. Kamya said she was disappointed with the dam’s condition. In her view, a structure only five years old should not show such heavy wear. She promised to release a full report within three weeks to guide future government action.
The crisis has already caused political fallout. Earlier this year, Parliament Police arrested four CIWEC officials. They had refused to admit responsibility for the defects, despite previous reports acknowledging the damage. This dispute highlights the need for stronger accountability in future infrastructure projects.
The situation at Isimba Dam shows that time is running out. The Isimba Dam failure risk is no longer a distant possibility but a real and urgent threat. Without immediate repairs, Uganda risks a major disaster. Thousands of lives, important ecosystems, and national energy supplies are at stake. Acting now is the only way to protect this critical resource and ensure Uganda’s future energy security.
