The government’s Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP), funded by the World Bank, has connected more than 234,000 households and institutions to electricity as Uganda pushes to expand power access across the country.
A brief presented to Parliament on Wednesday indicates that the five-year project, financed with USD 608 million, aims to increase electricity access for households, refugee-hosting communities, industrial parks, commercial enterprises and public institutions, while also supporting short grid extensions nationwide.
The project, which became effective in July 2023, is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) and the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC).
According to the report, the government plans to deliver about 1.58 million on-grid and off-grid electricity connections under the programme.
Before the expiry of its concession in March 2025, Umeme completed 155,088 electricity connections under the project. Its successor, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), has since taken over implementation and had completed 79,040 additional connections by June 30, 2026.
The report notes that Ugandans seeking government-funded electricity connections requiring one or no pole are encouraged to apply through UEDCL. Applicants are required to pay only Shs26,550, covering inspection fees and initial electricity units.
Government expects UEDCL to connect 30,000 customers in August 2026, with monthly connections projected to exceed 40,000 in the following months as more materials become available. Procurement of the remaining service connection materials is ongoing.
Under the grid expansion component, the project will construct 2,900 kilometres of medium-voltage lines, 3,100 kilometres of low-voltage lines, and install about 1,200 distribution transformers across more than 100 districts.
Nearly half of the grid expansion will benefit refugee-hosting districts, including Adjumani, Isingiro, Kamwenge, Kikuube, Kiryandongo, Koboko, Kyegegwa, Lamwo, Obongi, Madi Okollo, Terrego and Yumbe. The project will also extend electricity to industrial parks in Nebbi, Pader, Soroti, Kasese, Rukungiri and Kisoro.
The project also promotes off-grid energy through financial support managed by UECCC. More than 100 agreements have been signed with Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to supply subsidised solar home systems, clean cooking technologies and productive-use energy equipment across the country.
In public institutions, 40 water supply schemes have already been electrified and are operational, while installation is underway on four others. Forty-five schools have been selected for electrification, with works ongoing, and 172 health centres have been identified for connection.
The report further states that electric pressure cookers have already been installed and are operational at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital and Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, while installation of LPG, biomass and biogas cooking systems is ongoing in other public institutions.
However, the State Minister for Energy, Hon. Sidronius Okaasai acknowledged delays in new customer connections, attributing them to local suppliers failing to deliver electricity connection materials on time.
To address the challenge, Minister Okaasai said that UEDCL has been cleared to source materials from international suppliers while government continues to build local manufacturing capacity.
