Turkish company Mapa Construction Company has been awarded the contract to build the 600MW Ayago hydroelectric power dam in Nwoya District in northwestern Uganda, at a cost of US$1.9B.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between Mapa and the minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Irene Muloni.

The project is expected to get under way very soon. President Museveni, who witnessed the signing of the MoU, said the government wanted the project to take off immediately without delay so that Uganda could increase its electricity capacity.

According to an earlier plan, the project is expected to be developed in two phases, with the first phase, Ayago North, having a capacity of 350MW, and the second phase, Ayago South providing the balance of 250MW.