The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, has assured Ugandans of the government’s pledge to ensure that all Ugandans will access electricity by 2030.

While representing the Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among at the political commissioning of the Uganda Rural Electrification Access Project (UREAP) in Kolir Sub-county, Bukedea district, on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Minister Nankabirwa outlined the government’s priority to light up every Ugandan home, school, and business as a cornerstone of socio-economic transformation.

“This government has worked tirelessly over the past few years to bring peace and security to every part of Uganda. Now we want to bring socio-economic transformation, and my ministry is at the forefront of this endeavor,” Minister Nankabirwa said.

Highlighting the significant strides made in boosting the nation’s power generation capacity from a modest 100 MW in 1986 to an impressive 2,000 MW today, she celebrated the integration of the 600 MW Karuma Hydropower Plant.

“With the electricity infrastructure in place, the focus has now shifted to ensuring widespread access to electricity. We now know you need power for schools, hospitals, homes, and businesses. The government will give you access to electricity, and we want you to use this power productively,” Minister Nankabirwa urged.

She also praised Speaker Among for being a significant figure deserving unanimous support. She expressed optimism about the ongoing support for the Speaker and the government’s initiatives, highlighting her own long-standing service in Parliament and her commitment to enhancing energy access throughout Uganda, especially in the Teso region.

“The electrification projects in Bukedea district, which include over 40 kilometers of new power lines and the addition of several transformers, serve as a testament to the government’s dedication to its electrification goals, emphasizing the importance of utilizing energy for income-generating activities.

Dr. Nankabirwa thanked the African Development Bank, the EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund, contractors, and partners for their crucial roles in advancing these initiatives while highlighting the new Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP), whose national launch was held in Mitooma District at the beginning of February 2024, as a game-changer in the connectivity of over a million more Ugandan households.

She said that the projects are a significant stride towards achieving Uganda’s targets under the Electricity Connections Policy 2018, universal access by 2030, and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and our National Vision 2040.

Eng. Abdon Atwiine, who represented the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms. Irene Bateebe, echoed the Minister’s sentiments, celebrating the collaborative efforts that have brought these projects to fulfillment.

He highlighted the transformative impact of electrification on economic opportunities and living standards while outlining ambitious plans for further expanding access to electricity across the country.