The Minister for Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, has announced major progress in improving Uganda’s electricity distribution network, reaffirming government’s commitment to delivering a reliable and sustainable power supply across the country.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, Dr. Nankabirwa said the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has made significant strides since taking over the national distribution network following the expiry of UMEME’s concession in March 2025.
“Over the past years, our annual energy demand has grown by an average of 10%, driven largely by increased industrial consumption and new customer connections,” the Minister said. “We are now matching this growth with investments that improve the quality and reliability of electricity supply.”
Key Achievements
Since assuming full responsibility for the distribution network, UEDCL has implemented several critical upgrades, including:
- Expanding Kakiri substation from 10MW to 20MW.
- Upgrading Kabale substation from 2.5MW to 5MW.
- Expanding Masaka Central substation from 5MW to 7MW.
- Replacing 206 faulty transformers.
- Connecting 140,000 new customers to the grid.
Dr. Nankabirwa revealed that UEDCL has also secured land for new substations in Magigye and Kawempe, and drawn plans to refurbish nine substations, install 518 new transformers, and expand 40 medium-voltage lines before the end of 2025.
She emphasized that most new components are locally manufactured, in line with the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) policy.
“This not only strengthens our power sector but also boosts local industries producing equipment such as transformers,” she noted.
Campaigns Against Vandalism and Power Theft
The Minister condemned increasing acts of vandalism targeting power infrastructure in several districts including Kololo, Mukono, Kayunga, Masaka, Mpigi, Luwero, and Mbarara.
“These criminal acts undermine progress and cause unnecessary outages,” she said, calling for joint community efforts to curb the vice.
She also highlighted the success of the ‘Weterezeeee Campaign’, which allows electricity users with illegal or unsafe connections to regularize them without penalties.
“To date, over 22,900 Ugandans have responded positively, and the campaign has been extended to 31st October 2025,” Dr. Nankabirwa announced.
Expanding Access Through Free Connections
The Minister reminded the public of the ongoing Free Electricity Connections Policy, implemented under the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project (EASP), which supports no-pole and one-pole connection services.
She encouraged eligible citizens to contact their nearest UEDCL office for assistance.
Looking Ahead
Dr. Nankabirwa reaffirmed government’s commitment to continue investing in power generation, transmission, and distribution to meet the country’s growing energy needs.
“The Government has approved UEDCL’s five-year investment strategy to modernize and strengthen the network,” she said. “We are building an electricity system that is modern, resilient, and capable of supporting Uganda’s rapid industrial growth.”
She concluded by urging all Ugandans to protect national electricity infrastructure and embrace safe power use practices.
“Together, we can build a reliable and secure electricity system that powers Uganda’s development,” she said.
The Source Reports.
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