Uganda | Xinhua | Uganda shut down two key hydropower plants in the eastern part of the country on Tuesday after a floating “island” of weeds moved toward the installations.

Umeme Limited, the country’s main electricity distributor, said in a statement that the floating weeds had appeared at the Nalubaale and Kira dams on the Nile River as it started its journey from Lake Victoria.

“The development is affecting supply in the Kampala Metropolitan and surrounding areas following emergency load shedding until the floating island has been cleared,” Umeme added.

The two plants account for about 380 MW of the East African country’s current generation capacity of more than 1,300 MW.

In 2020, Uganda experienced a nationwide power blackout after floating weeds affected the Nalubaale power plant, one of the leading hydropower stations in Uganda.