Gridworks Breaks Ground on US$50 Million Amari Transmission Project to Strengthen Uganda’s Power Grid and Enable Regional Energy Trade

Gridworks has officially broken ground on the Amari Power Transmission Project in Uganda, marking the start of construction on what the company describes as Africa’s first privately financed electricity transmission project to reach financial close.

The groundbreaking ceremony, held at the Mbarara South Substation, was attended by Baroness Chapman, Monica Musenero, Lisa Chesney, and Chris Flavin.

The US$50 million project is being developed and financed by Gridworks, which is owned by British International Investment. The initiative has been developed in partnership with the Government of Uganda and the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited.

Under the project, Gridworks will upgrade the transformer capacity at four high-voltage substations across Uganda’s national electricity grid. The upgrades are expected to improve power reliability and quality for industrial consumers, facilitate the integration of additional electricity generation capacity, reduce transmission losses, and strengthen Uganda’s readiness for regional electricity trade.

The project is also expected to support the country’s industrialisation agenda by reinforcing the national transmission network and improving the delivery of electricity to industries and households.

Siemens Energy has been appointed as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the project, with commissioning scheduled for 2028.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gridworks CEO Chris Flavin said the groundbreaking marks the transition from project planning to execution, highlighting the importance of collaboration between governments, utilities, and investors in delivering critical electricity infrastructure.

Uganda’s Energy Minister Monica Musenero described the project as a milestone for the country’s energy sector, noting that hosting Africa’s first independently financed transmission project reflects Uganda’s commitment to expanding access to clean and affordable electricity while strengthening its partnership with the United Kingdom.

Chris Chijiutomi, Managing Director and Head of Africa at British International Investment, said the institution remains committed to supporting long-term infrastructure investments that improve energy access, attract private capital, and promote sustainable economic development across Uganda.