Overview:
UEDCL Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa painted a picture of progress. He cited key infrastructure upgrades—including enhancements at Kabale, Kakiri, Kawanda, and Matugga substations—and the replacement of 116 transformers deemed faulty.
A hundred days since Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) took over the national power distribution network from Umeme, the promise of improved service is being tested by mounting public frustration.
While UEDCL touts upgrades and fresh investments, many Ugandans are still navigating daily power cuts, unresponsive customer service, and a growing sense of disillusionment.
At a press briefing held Wednesday at the Uganda Media Centre, UEDCL Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa painted a picture of progress. He cited key infrastructure upgrades—including enhancements at Kabale, Kakiri, Kawanda, and Matugga substations—and the replacement of 116 transformers deemed faulty.
“We analyzed the power supply situation in different parts of the country and drew a concrete plan to eliminate load shedding,” Mwesigwa said, adding that UEDCL is rolling out capital projects worth USD 44 million to boost operational efficiency. He said 550 linemen had already been deployed and 400 more technicians would join the network by the end of July to support the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project (EASP), which aims for 510,000 new connections annually.
Yet outside the air-conditioned halls of officialdom, many Ugandans say their reality is far more grim.
On social media, angry users from Kampala to Mbale, Wakiso to Gulu, are documenting outages that last for days—without warning or explanation. Emma Mawa from Kinawataka posted: “If it’s about @UEDCLTD’s 100 days in office, it’s the worst power supply ever.” In Buloba, Nakiboneka Moureen said, “We get electricity at midnight. By morning, it’s gone again. It’s like electricity has its owners.”
Even middle-class professionals have not been spared. Rights advocate and procurement lawyer Mwesigwa Samantha lamented: “We had no power all day Sunday due to maintenance. Then it rains, and we’re off again. What kind of incompetence is this?”
Others are responding with satire. Taxi operator James Aine quipped: “May the gods of Nalubaale strike you while switching off that electricity of yours.” Boda-boda rider Ssemakula Alex jabbed: “We’re kindly requesting Umeme to come back. UEDCL is like Manchester United—rubbish.”
Mwesigwa acknowledged the problem, citing rampant vandalism and power theft as major disruptions. “We’ve seen an upsurge in illegal connections and theft of equipment, which has plunged many communities into darkness,” he said, adding that 41 suspects have so far been detained and 17 arraigned in court. He pledged action against perpetrators, including any staff found complicit.
But for many consumers, the problem isn’t just the outages—it’s the silence. “We’ve gone days without power and not even an update,” one resident posted on X. “When we call, no one picks up. The silence is just as frustrating as the darkness.”
Energy Minister Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa, however, defended UEDCL’s stewardship, praising the company for stabilizing billing systems and managing vending services without major breakdowns. She emphasized that electricity consumption had reached 1,031 megawatts nationally—a sign, she argued, of growing electrification and economic activity.
“With the right investments, UEDCL will not only meet today’s demand but also prepare us for the future,” she said.
Still, the public is not buying into the optimism. UEDCL’s takeover came with expectations of faster response times, fewer blackouts, and better communication. So far, those benchmarks appear elusive.
While the company reports that over 23,000 new customers have been connected, those already on the grid remain deeply dissatisfied. Schools, hospitals, markets, and small businesses report operational setbacks caused by unpredictable power supply. Calls to UEDCL’s customer care lines often go unanswered, and local leaders in affected areas say they’ve been left without official communication or timelines for restoration.
Analysts say that the next phase of UEDCL’s mandate will require more than infrastructure upgrades—it will demand public trust. And trust, they caution, cannot be rebuilt through press conferences or figures alone.
For now, the company’s slogan—Powering Uganda—remains an aspiration rather than a reality.