The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), together with the Project Management team of the Electricity Access Scale-Up project (EASP) have kick started the government’s latest efforts to connect one million new grid connections with an aim of increasing electricity distribution across the country.
The five-year World Bank-funded project, which is to cost US $638 Million (Shs2.36Trillion) will support the implementation of 150,000 off grid connections and clean cooking solutions through various financial intermediation measures.
Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry urged the 10-Man Project Management team led by Engineer Edward Baleke, to kick start the project as soon as possible.
She said this while receiving a team at the ministry headquarters in Kampala, on August 1, 2023.
“This is a critical project for the government of Uganda, and this team has a noble calling to improve the livelihood of 46 million Ugandans. I am confident that the team has the requisite skills, having come on board through a rigorous meritocratic process,” Bateebe said.
She noted that the EASP will build on the earlier government initiatives in the energy sector to support the expansion and strengthening of the electricity distribution network, scale-up service connections within the network, clean cooking services and technologies.
Bateebe pledged support to the EASP team to enable them execute their mandate, and urged the team to set high standards while raising the electricity access rate in the country.
Engineer Baleke, the EASP Project Coordination Manager, assured MEMD’s Management of his team’s commitment to delivering the project within its timelines.
“My team is committed to disbursing the US$638 Million in four years, as we move towards the target, to connect 10.4 Million households to the national grid and through off-grid initiatives,” Eng. Baleke noted.
EASP is designed to support Government’s efforts to increase access to electricity for households, refugee and host communities, industrial parks, commercial enterprises and public institutions to spur socio-economic transformation.
The steps taken are in line with the Uganda’s vision 2040, the National Development Plan (NDPII and III), the 2018-2027 Electricity Connection Policy (ECP) adopted in January 2018, to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) of achieving universal Energy access.
