Kasese Electrification Project

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Kilembe Investments Limited (KIL) was awarded a concession to distribute power to the rural areas in Kasese by the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Uganda (ERA) in November 2003. Kasese had a population of 53,400 in 2002. According to the contract, KIL gets the electricity form Kilembe Mines Ltd that used only two out of the five megawatts of the power generated from its hydro plants at Mobuku dam built in the early 1950’s. KIL was created in 1997 by the employees of Kilembe Mines Ltd. with 78 registered members and a capital of Shs 1.5m million. As of 2003, member base grew to 630 with a capital base of Shs 30 million. - FORMER copper mining giant, Kilembe Mines Limited. (KML), is brokering a $1.670m (about sh3.2b) deal to sell electricity under the Government's and World Bank 'The Energy for Rural Transformation programme (ERT). This is contained in a June 6 letter to the Kasese district chairman signed by the company's board chairman, George Mfite Basaza, on behalf of Kilembe Investments Limited (KIL). KIL is a KML subsidiary at the centre of the proposed deal. In the letter Basaza also appeals to institutions, individuals and communities to buy shares in KIL. Parts of neighbouring the Democratic Republic of Congo, (DRC) could also benefit. Kasese Cobalt Company Ltd (KCCL), Hima Cement, and the Kasese District Local Government are the current main shareholders in KIL. Kilembe Mines generates about 5MW of power. by John B. Thawite