When Power Brings People Together; South Sudan – Uganda Power Interconnection Project
In a transformative step toward regional energy integration and sustainable development, the South Sudan–Uganda Power Interconnection Project (SUPIP) is lighting the path to progress for two neighboring nations. Backed by the African Development Fund and the European Union through the African Development Bank, the project aims to weave South Sudan into the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP), making reliable electricity not just a promise, but a reality.
At the heart of SUPIP lies a 400kV double circuit transmission line stretching over 300 kilometers, 149 km from Gumbo in Juba to the Ugandan border, and another 151.5 km connecting to Uganda’s Olwiyo substation via a new substation in Bibia. This backbone will be supported by new and upgraded substations, including a major installation at Nesitu in South Sudan, bringing world-class energy infrastructure closer to communities that have long relied on costly, unreliable alternatives.
The benefits are already sparking hope. In South Sudan, 100 km of medium-voltage lines and 400 km of low-voltage reticulations in Nimule will enable 1,000 new household connections. For families and schools in Nimule, access to affordable and reliable power means more than just convenience. It is a gateway to better education for their children and safer, more productive homes.
Equally, the project unlocks a new electricity market for Uganda’s surplus clean energy, strengthening bilateral ties and economic cooperation. Institutions in both countries will also gain capacity building support, ensuring the sustainability of operations and maintenance long after the last pole is raised.
But the journey isn’t without its costs. Beyond the technical investment, SUPIP is making a social one, funding environmental and social safeguards, resettlement and compensation for affected persons, and empowering women and civil society groups along the route.
From policy rooms in Kigali to power lines crossing borders, SUPIP is more than just a project, it’s a symbol of regional resilience, partnership, and shared progress. The lights are coming on, and with them, a brighter future.