Overview:
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) has acknowledged the current power supply instability, assuring the public of its commitment to ensuring a stable and sustainable energy supply.
Uganda is experiencing a surge in power outages and load shedding, prompting widespread public outcry and demands for explanations from authorities. This disruption coincides with the critical transition from Umeme Ltd.’s 20-year distribution concession to management by the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (UEDCL) on April 1st.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) has acknowledged the current power supply instability, assuring the public of its commitment to ensuring a stable and sustainable energy supply. The ministry stated that while power supply remained relatively stable throughout the previous year, a recent surge in national electricity demand has overloaded existing substations, necessitating urgent upgrades to the transmission and distribution network.
Historically, Ugandans have dealt with unstable power supply, particularly during the rainy season, a major source of criticism against Umeme. The ministry emphasizes that stabilizing power services remains a top priority. “The Ministry and its key partners have prioritized operational maintenance activities to resolve these reliability issues across the network and improve the efficiency of our power supply system,” the statement read.
Several factors have contributed to the recent outages:
- Critical equipment failures: Leading to direct service interruptions in affected areas.
- Insufficient network capacity: Sections of the network are unable to handle the increased load.
- Vandalism and theft: Particularly along the Kawanda-Masaka Transmission Line, severely disrupting supply.
- Bushfires: In areas along the Gulu highway, such as Kiryandongo and Karuma, damaging transmission lines.
The ministry reports that collaborative interventions with its sister agencies are underway to address these challenges. “Urgent maintenance and upgrade activities are ongoing to enhance the reliability of the power supply and resolve the capacity limitations in various parts of the country,” the statement confirmed.
Furthermore, the ministry has prioritized the mobilization of funds to ensure these interventions are carried out efficiently, aiming to guarantee uninterrupted service and minimize future disruptions.