Uganda collected $26.84m (about Shs95b) from exporting electricity between June 2020 and June 2021, latest statistics indicate.
According to the Bank of Uganda report for June 2021, Uganda’s electricity exports increased from $24.5 million (about Shs87b) in June 2020 to $26.84m (about Shs95b) in June 2021.
This was an equivalent of 294,194 megawatts in June 2021, up from246,352 megawatts exported during the same period ended June 2020.
Uganda sells electricity to the neighbouring countries of Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo and South Sudan.
The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) attributes the increase to the good performance of the Uganda Shilling against the dollar.
“During the period under review, the appreciating dollar played a big role in increasing earnings,” Pamela Nalwanga, the UETCL public relations officer, is quoted as saying by Daily Monitor.
Uganda’s current installed electricity capacity stands at 1,252.4 megawatts. However consumption stands at slightly above 650 megawatts during peak hours, which creates a surplus of half of what is generated.
UETCL is in charge of bulk electricity supplies for both the local and export markets.
In October 2019, Kenya indicated it had increased its power imports from Uganda due to a reduction in tariffs from Shs787.3 to Shs501 per unit.
Kenya’s Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter said at the time the sharp growth in electricity imports from Uganda had been informed by a tariff reduction of about 50 per cent.