Free electricity connections drive business growth in Wakiso

Free electricity connections are driving business growth and reducing operating costs for entrepreneurs in Wakiso District, as a $638 million World Bank-funded initiative begins to close Uganda’s energy gap.

The Electricity Access Scale-up Project, known as EASP, was launched by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in early 2024. By providing free grid connections, the program is helping small-business owners move away from unreliable solar systems and expensive shared power arrangements.

In Kajjansi Town Council, salon owner Alex Tukamuhebwa said his business struggled for two years while relying on a solar system that limited his capacity. Since connecting to the national grid through the project, Tukamuhebwa said his earnings and efficiency have improved significantly.

The impact is also visible in Gangu C Village, where shopkeeper Ivan Turyatemba has seen his monthly overhead drop. Turyatemba, who operates a refrigerator for his shop, previously shared a meter and paid about 40,000 shillings per month. Now as a sole user with a new meter, his monthly costs have fallen to 15,000 shillings.

“Recently, I paid 9,000 shillings and got 17 units,” Turyatemba said. “It was such a joyous moment because I paid less and got more.”

For property owners, the project has streamlined commercial management. Justine Nalwoga, a landlord in Busabala Cell, recently connected her commercial buildings which house a pharmacy, a bar and a tailoring unit.

Nalwoga said the transition to independent meters has removed the administrative burden of managing tenant utility bills. Her tenant, Justine Nabuuma, who runs the tailoring business, said the individual meter has provided her business with a new sense of independence.

The EASP aims to facilitate more than 1 million free connections by 2027, focusing on households, businesses and public institutions. While Uganda’s total electricity generation capacity is expected to reach 2,098 megawatts by June 2025, officials say projects like EASP are necessary to stimulate the demand required to utilize that surplus.

Government data shows that only 19 percent of rural households currently have power, compared to 71 percent in urban centers. By providing free entry to the grid, the EASP is positioned as a critical tool for industrialization and wealth generation under the Fourth National Development Plan.