A section of Lamwo residents and local leaders have raised questions over land documentation for a proposed 17.8-megawatt hydropower project on the Aswa River. Gidro Sila Power Company Limited began acquiring land in Kadomera Parish, Palabek-Nyimur Sub-county, in 2018 to establish a $56 million power plant in the district.
During a public hearing of the project concept held in Palabek Nyimur Sub-county on Friday, Michael Omona, an official from Gidro Sila, said the plant will generate 17,800 kWh per hour at full load and operate 4,500 to 5,500 hours annually, contributing directly to Uganda’s Sustainable Power Supply Plan. Omona noted that the development has secured permits from the Ministry of Water and Environment, including a Water Obstruction Permit, Construction Permit, and Riverbank Use Permission, with technical reviews by UEDCL confirming compatibility with the national grid.
Environmental assessments have also been completed, projecting an annual carbon emissions reduction of 32,000 tonnes—about 0.8% of Uganda’s 2030 climate-mitigation target. The project, planned on 108 hectares of land provided by Padwat Chiefdom in 2022, is expected to create jobs in civil works, mechanical installation, logistics, and long-term plant operations, prioritizing local residents. A vocational training centre is planned to develop hydropower-related skills, and salaries are expected to meet or exceed regional industry standards.
“The project is also expected to increase tax revenue for Lamwo District and attract follow-on investment in agro-processing industries, including fresh food storage and silos,” Omona said. He added that electricity coverage in Lamwo currently stands below 40%, while only 12% of households in Palabek Nyimur Sub-county have reliable electricity. “The project will improve power supply stability by up to 50% for households and public services, reflecting economic benefits and people-centered policies,” Omona said.
Despite broad support, residents and landowners expressed concerns about gaps in land documentation during the public hearing. Jude Ogik, lawyer for Padwat chiefdom, said that while his clients support the project, key documents, including land-use agreements and valuation records, remain unsigned or incomplete. “The partnership agreement has very good intentions, but it is not signed and witnessed properly. We have not seen the valuation of the customary land, which should have informed the decision in signing,” Ogik said.
He added that no landowners have received payment yet and called for formalization of all agreements before the project proceeds. “It is a $56 million project. We don’t want to frustrate it, but the people providing the land—the backbone of the project—must benefit.” Robert Prestwood Okwera, a resident, questioned whether the land would be leased or purchased, since government is expected to take over the project later.
Sunday Ojok, another resident of Padwat, argued that the 2022 agreement involved only a few people, leaving many community members uninformed about the project.
John Okello Oton, chairperson of Padwat, said the community initially supported the project without being fully informed. “We agreed ignorantly, and the majority of knowledgeable people and leaders were not in the meeting,” Oton said.
Lamwo District Chairperson Sisto Ocen Oyet welcomed the investment but warned that bypassing district structures could lead to future disputes. “We have the district land board and sub-county land boards. These are stakeholders concerned with land matters,” Oyet said. He noted that district leaders have not signed any memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the company.
“This is a big project, and it’s going to stay with us forever. We are not against it, but we want things to move step by step with no cutting corners. All proposed corporate social responsibility initiatives should not be hearsay,” he added. Kenneth Muhumuza, Regional Supervisor for the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) in Gulu, said the public hearing was meant to collect residents’ views before presenting the project to the ERA board, which decides whether the company should be licensed.
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