The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), in collaboration with the Directorate of Water Resources Management (DWRM) and Consultants – SWECO, conducted a multi-site field reconnaissance of dam and waterway safety across selected Power plants and multipurpose dams in Uganda. This activity is part of an ongoing technical assistance programme between ERA and the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), aimed at strengthening dam and waterway safety management and enhancing regulatory oversight of waterways infrastructure.

The field visit is part of a broader assignment being implemented by SWECO, contracted through the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), to conduct a situation analysis of Uganda’s dam and waterways safety guidelines, regulatory framework, and proposed classification criteria. The consultancy is expected to provide a baseline for strengthening national dam and waterway safety governance and improving regulatory standards.

Through this Technical Assistance, NVE continues to support ERA and DWRM in advancing hydropower dam safety and waterways regulation, alongside other hydraulic structures.

Visiting the Key Representative Hydropower Dam and waterway facilities across Uganda

ERA and its partners adopted a representative sampling approach, selecting facilities that reflect different dam and waterways types, sizes, locations, and operational contexts. This approach supports the development of practical, evidence-based regulations grounded in the realities of Uganda’s dam infrastructure.

During the field visit, the ERA and DWRM technical team inspected critical safety structures and monitoring systems for dams and waterways, including instrumentation, embankment conditions, turbine areas, tailrace zones, and spillway structures. The team also engaged directly with operators to better understand the dam and waterways’ safety procedures currently in place.

The facilities visited included:

1. Nyamaghasani 1 Hydropower Plant
2. Nyamaghasani 2 Hydropower Plant
3. Isimba Hydropower Project
4. Nalubaale–Kiira Complex
5. Bujagali hydropower plant
6. Bugoye hydropower plant
7. Nyamwaba 1 Hydropower Plant
8. Katoma Water Supply (NWSC Mubende) Dam

These visits enabled the team to gain deeper insight into how operators monitor structural integrity, manage operational risks, and implement preventive maintenance measures to safeguard infrastructure and downstream communities from any potential dam and water breaks.

Supporting the Development of Regulations for All Dams and Waterways

Uganda currently has dam safety guidelines in place, while the dam safety regulations have remained in draft form since 2017. Through this field-based assessment, ERA and its partners examined dams of varying ages, purposes, and technical characteristics to ensure that the resulting regulations will be practical, enforceable, and responsive to Uganda’s environmental and infrastructure needs. The regulations under development will apply to all dams and waterways in Uganda (hydropower, water supply, multipurpose, and other hydraulic structures), thereby promoting uniform safety standards nationwide.

Key Areas of Focus

The field visit focused on several dams and waterways safety considerations, namely:

1. Structural and operational integrity of dam infrastructure
2. Reliability of monitoring and instrumentation systems
3. Emergency preparedness and maintenance practices
4. Institutional roles and coordination among regulators and operators
5. Environmental and hydrological factors affecting dam performance
6. Identification of good practices that can be scaled nationally

Dam Safety as a Regulatory Priority

ERA and DWRM highlight that dam and waterway safety remains central to their mandates as regulators. Safe dams and waterways protect lives, secure electricity generation, safeguard water resources, and support sustainable national development. By strengthening the legal and regulatory framework, ERA and DWRM aim to enhance accountability among operators, reduce risks to downstream communities, and ensure that Uganda’s dams continue to serve the country safely and reliably for generations to come.