Russia is moving closer to building a six-reactor nuclear power plant in this African country

A recent statement from a Ugandan official revealed that the country's nuclear program, in collaboration with Russia, includes a six-reactor power plant.

During a plenary session of BRICS Construction Week in Kazan, Ugandan Minister of State for Lands, Harriet Ntabazi, indicated that the nuclear project between Russia and Uganda includes a 6-reactor nuclear power plant.

Representatives from Uganda and Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear company, signed a roadmap for the development of the power plant.

History of the nuclear agreement between Russia and Uganda

In November 2024, Uganda announced its intention to participate in Russia's nuclear expansion in Africa.

The project was revealed at the time by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abubaker Jeje Odongo, who indicated that Uganda was studying the possibility of a nuclear energy agreement with Russia.

Speaking to Russian media, Odongo said the proposed agreement would involve the construction of a nuclear power plant in the East African country.

The Ugandan minister indicated that this agreement is explained by the fact that the demand for energy in Africa is increasing, particularly for reasons of industrialization.

He then stated that this African country attaches great importance to nuclear energy.

A month earlier, on the sidelines of the International Youth Festival, Uganda's Minister of Energy, Okaasai Sidronius Opolot, had revealed that the government had begun exhaustive planning to choose a location for a nuclear power plant and was studying uranium deposits.

In January 2025, nuclear collaboration was once again discussed when the CEO of the Russian state company Rosatom revealed that Uganda and Russia were examining plans to build a nuclear power plant.

As recently reported by Sputnik, Foreign Minister Abubaker Jeje Odongo revealed this initiative at the time, stating that Uganda was considering a possible nuclear energy agreement with the Russian Federation.

The nascent relationship between Russia and Uganda goes well beyond mere nuclear cooperation; the two countries also share a security partnership.

Russia is strengthening its military presence in Uganda

During a meeting on October 9, Major General Sergei Marchuk, head of the Russian armed forces, told Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni that several military infrastructure projects agreed upon at a previous meeting had been completed.

These projects include a military armament and equipment park in Magamaga, a maintenance and repair center for boats in Entebbe, and facilities for rapid intervention military units.

Russia also provided a floating mooring post and technical equipment for maritime security operations at the Alice port of Kalangala.

A mobile command post has also been set up at the Marine school in the area.

At the Karama Mechanized War College, Russian specialists have set up a multimedia training room for crews using BRDM-2M armored reconnaissance vehicles, UBC reported.

According to Military Africa, the Ugandan armed forces had received engineering and naval equipment from Russia in 2025 worth approximately $53 million, or 184 billion Ugandan shillings.

Museveni welcomed the aid, describing Uganda's ties with Russia as a long-standing relationship dating back to the Bolshevik revolution of 1917.