Overview:

Nankabirwa said electricity demand in the country has grown by 10 percent annually, coinciding with UEDCL’s takeover period. The transition, she explained, limited capital investment in the distribution network and contributed to the current outages.

Ugandans are likely to continue facing power supply disruptions as the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) completes the transition from the Umeme concession, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, has said.

Speaking to journalists at the Government Media Center on Tuesday, Nankabirwa said electricity demand in the country has grown by 10 percent annually, coinciding with UEDCL’s takeover period. The transition, she explained, limited capital investment in the distribution network and contributed to the current outages.

“The growth in electricity demand came at a time when the Umeme concession was ending. During Umeme’s operation, investment was limited to ensure an affordable buyout, and UEDCL could not invest in the network before taking over. This led to equipment breakdowns,” Nankabirwa said.

Since assuming full responsibility for power distribution, UEDCL has been refurbishing systems and upgrading infrastructure to improve reliability. Key upgrades include:

  • Kakiri Substation: Expanded from 10MW to 20MW
  • Kabale Substation: Increased from 2.5MW to 5MW
  • Masaka Central Substation: Upgraded from 5MW to 7MW
  • Replacement of 206 faulty transformers nationwide

“These upgrades require temporary power shutdowns, so Ugandans will continue to experience inconveniences until the systems are fully upgraded. We cannot run away from this,” the minister said.

Many transformers and substations in Uganda are decades old, some installed as far back as 1994, yet they now serve densely populated areas, leading to system overloads. To address this, UEDCL has secured funding for new substations, including:

  • Kawempe Substation: To stabilize power at Kawempe Referral Hospital and the police station
  • Majigye Substation: To manage electricity along Gayaza, Bugema, Nakwero, and surrounding areas

However, Nankabirwa decried the persistent vandalism of power lines, particularly in Kololo, Mukono, Kayunga, Nakasongola, Luweero, and Mbarara. Over the past four months, 62 people have been arrested for vandalism. She urged security agencies and local leaders to work with communities to protect infrastructure.

The minister asked Ugandans to give UEDCL up to two years to complete the refurbishment before criticising the company on social media.

UEDCL Executive Director, Paul Mwesigwa, said the company plans to install 518 new transformers after procuring $134 million in materials and equipment to ensure reliable power supply.

Despite these efforts, many Ugandans remain concerned about the persistent outages since the end of the Umeme concession, questioning whether UEDCL is capable of managing the distribution system.

Nankabirwa, however, emphasized that the ongoing disruptions are temporary and part of a necessary process to modernize and expand Uganda’s electricity network.

“Of course, we must acknowledge that some inconveniences are inevitable, but these improvements are essential to long-term service delivery,” she said.