JUBA, South Sudan — South Sudan is on track to begin receiving electricity generated from Uganda’s 600-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Station by late 2026 or early 2027, in a move expected to strengthen energy cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
South Sudan’s Minister of Energy and Dams, Agok Makur Kur, said the country was working towards connecting Juba to Uganda’s electricity grid through the planned Uganda–South Sudan power interconnection project.
The project involves construction of a 400kV transmission line linking Olwiyo in northern Uganda to Juba, covering approximately 300 kilometres. It will include substations and grid extensions in both countries to facilitate cross-border electricity trade.
The planned connection is expected to transmit surplus electricity from Uganda to South Sudan, helping address Juba’s longstanding power deficit while supporting economic activity, investment and access to essential services.
According to the Nile Basin Initiative, the South Sudan–Uganda interconnection corridor is also strategically important for broader regional energy integration, with the transmission infrastructure potentially supporting future hydropower developments in South Sudan.
Karuma, Uganda’s largest hydropower project, has an installed generation capacity of 600MW. The facility is therefore expected to provide a significant source of electricity for regional power trade once the transmission infrastructure linking Uganda and South Sudan is operational.
The planned power link will run from Uganda through Olwiyo and the Elegu border area into Nimule before connecting to Juba. The European Union-backed project is designed to improve cross-border power trade and provide South Sudan with more stable and affordable electricity.
The development comes as South Sudan continues to pursue investments in its domestic energy infrastructure. The government has also identified hydropower projects such as Grand Fulla as part of its longer-term strategy to expand electricity generation.
For Uganda, supplying electricity to South Sudan would further position the country as a regional energy hub while creating opportunities for increased power exports and deeper economic integration within East Africa.
If completed as planned, the Karuma–Juba connection could mark a significant milestone in Uganda–South Sudan relations, transforming electricity cooperation into a key pillar of bilateral economic engagement.
