The Minister of Energy and Minerals Development, Dr. Mary Goretti Kitutu on Thursday 10th July appointed Eng. Joan Mutiibwa as the Ag. Executive Director for the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the government agency responsible for driving universal access to electricity.
Joan, full names Kayanga Joan Dhamutudha Mutiibwa, is a professional Electrical Engineer with over 15 years’ experience in energy policy matters, project management, construction of electricity power lines, human resources and financial management.
She holds a Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nottingham in England which she attained in 2004 and a Bsc in Electrical Engineering from Makerere University.
She is a registered Engineer with the Engineers Registration Board and a Corporate Member of the Uganda Institution of Professional Engineers.
As REA boss, one of her key assignments, will be driving the Government of Uganda’s Electricity Connections Policy 2018-2027 that aims at scaling up access to power and clean energy throughout the country. The plan targets to achieve 60% access to electricity by 2027- up from the current 28 per cent and 51 per cent by 2030 and 100% by 2040.
Prior to this appointment, she has been serving as a Principal Project Engineer with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for over 8 years since February 2012. In this role, she supervised a team of 7 Senior Project Engineers, 9 Project Engineers and 10 Project Assistants and has been able to supervise and deliver projects worth over USD175 million (UGX648 billion) and over 5,200 kilometres of medium and low voltage lines, benefiting over 200,000 households, mainly in rural Uganda.
Before joining REA, Joan worked with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, between 2003 and 2010, rising to the rank of Senior Energy Officer.
How Ecobank is Betting on Inclusive, Tech-Powered Learning in UgandaOne of her flagship projects at REA has been, coordinating a USD 135 million Energy for Rural Transformation Project (ERT III) funded by the World Bank and the Government of Uganda. ERT III includes construction of over 1,900 kms of medium voltage connecting over 150,000 households by 2021.
She has also been very instrumental in the coordination of 8 rural electrification projects co-funded by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (USD 10 million), Saudi Fund for Development (USD 10 million) and Government of Uganda. The project covered 851 km of medium voltage and 550km of low voltage likes in Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Bukwo, Mayuge, Mityana, Rakai, Hoima, Kibaale, Paac and Kitgum.
Between 2012 to 2014, she led and successfully completed the supervision of construction works for the Gulu – Adjumani –Moyo 33 kV project funded by the Norwegian government, covering over 254 kms of medium voltage and associated low voltage networks which is currently being operated by Uganda Electricity Distribution Company.
During the same period, she also oversaw the supervision of construction works of Apala – Adwari – Kiru 33 KV project in Otuke and Abim that was funded by the |Norwegian Government covering over 117 kilometers of Medium Voltage and Low Voltage networks. The project was successfully commission is currently being utilized by UEDCL and Pader – Abim Community Multi-Purpose Electric Cooperative.
Other projects include the coordination of the 6 rural electrification projects covering 1061 km of medium voltage lines in various districts of Uganda as well as the supervision of the construction of the Mityana-Lusalira 33KV project.
While at Ministry of Energy, one of Joan’s key projects, was the completion of the 3.5 MW kfW-funded Nyagak minihydro power project in Paidha and the construction of four 33kv grid extension powerlines in the region. She was the Project Manager on behalf of the Ministry and in this role, she also participated in the negotiations between the Government of Uganda and the operator (West Nile Rural Electrification Co. Ltd) for funding the project.
