The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, has revealed that Uganda’s electricity demand is growing at an annual rate of 10%, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthening the national grid and ensuring reliable power supply for all consumers.
Addressing journalists at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, Hon. Nankabirwa said Uganda’s electricity sector is undergoing a major transformation following the end of the Umeme concession, which paved the way for the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to take over full distribution operations.
“Earlier this year, the Umeme concession that was constraining us from doing something big finally came to an end,” she said. “I commend UEDCL for doing a great job in refurbishing the systems and establishing new ones. Since the takeover, we have hit a great milestone of over 140,000 new customer connections to the national grid.”
Hon. Nankabirwa highlighted several infrastructure upgrades, including the expansion of Kakiri substation from 10MW to 20MW, Kabale from 2.5MW to 5MW, and Masaka Central from 5MW to 7MW. UEDCL has also replaced 206 faulty transformers and secured land for new substations at Magigye and Kawempe.
“Substations like Namungona, Mutundwe, and Namugongo — some older than 90% of our population — are undergoing critical upgrades to serve Uganda’s growing power demands,” she explained. “We are refurbishing nine substations, installing 518 new transformers, and expanding 40 medium-voltage lines before the close of 2025.”
Rehabilitating ageing electricity substations
Speaking in Ntungamo district on October 1, 2025, Nankabirwa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rehabilitating Uganda’s ageing electricity substations to ensure a reliable and affordable power supply for the country’s growing industrial and agricultural sectors.
Nankabirwa said that Uganda’s power infrastructure, while greatly expanded in generation capacity, still requires significant upgrades in transmission and distribution systems.
“Every transformer and substation in Uganda must be maintained. Some are older than many of us and are operating beyond their designed capacity — which is dangerous,” she cautioned during the World Coffee Day celebrations held at the African Coffee Park.
“Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) is rehabilitating the network, and I ask for patience during this process. Temporary inconveniences like power cuts are necessary to ensure long-term reliability.”
The Minister was accompanied by Eng. Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, along with top officials from the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) and UEDCL who reaffirmed their commitment to providing reliable and affordable electricity to power Uganda’s industrialisation and socio-economic transformation.
Extension of Weterezeeee campaign
UEDCL’s #Weterezeeee campaign, which encourages Ugandans to regularise illegal connections, has already helped 22,937 people legalise their electricity access.
Hon. Nankabirwa announced that the campaign would be extended for an additional three months. “We must fight vandalism and power theft, which cause frequent outages and losses,” she cautioned. “I urge all Ugandans to embrace the Weterezeeee initiative and the Light ku Layisi program, where one can connect to the grid at only Shs 30,000.”
The Minister further revealed that UEDCL has made remarkable progress in financial performance. “I am happy to report that UEDCL is 100% up to date in payments. In one month, they even collected 102%, recovering old debts,” she said, applauding the company for its efficiency and accountability.
The Ministry is also implementing the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy through local sourcing of materials for the electricity sector, which Hon. Nankabirwa said is boosting domestic industry participation and creating jobs.
She emphasised that reliable and affordable power is a cornerstone of Uganda’s economic agenda, particularly in industrial parks and agro-processing zones.
“Electricity is the engine of transformation — from coffee processing to mineral development and science innovation,” she said. “We are building a stronger grid that can meet Uganda’s growing energy needs and support our journey toward middle-income status.”
Protect the electricity infrastructure
Officials from ERA and UEDCL reaffirmed the sector’s collective goal to improve reliability, efficiency, and service delivery across the country.
The Minister called on Ugandans to protect electricity infrastructure in their communities and work together to ensure sustainable access for future generations. “Reliable power means progress for every Ugandan,” she said. “Let us take ownership of this journey to power our homes, industries, and our nation’s future.”
Reflecting on the country’s electricity journey, Nankabirwa noted Uganda’s remarkable progress — from 150 megawatts in 1986 to over 2,000 megawatts today — largely driven by renewable sources such as hydropower and solar. However, she stressed that improved transmission infrastructure is now key to making this power accessible and affordable to industries like coffee processing.
She added that reliable power is essential for agribusinesses like Inspire Africa Coffee, ensuring that the brand’s products remain organic and environmentally friendly. The Minister also noted that ongoing grid rehabilitation will support Uganda’s mining sector, including Mwerasandu’s tin operations, which require consistent electricity for value addition.
She said the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development remains steadfast in its mission to power Uganda’s transformation agenda. “We are committed to providing the infrastructure needed for projects like this to thrive. Reliable electricity is not just about lighting homes — it’s about empowering industry, boosting exports, and creating jobs for our people,” she said.