Since taking over from UMEME in April 2025, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has made significant progress in expanding electricity access across the country. In just six months, UEDCL has connected 648,404 new customers to the national power grid, increasing the total number of connections from 1.78 million to 2.43 million.
This major development was revealed by UEDCL’s Managing Director, Mr. Paul Mwesigwa, during a government agencies’ meeting held on September 16, 2025, at the State House Investors’ Protection Unit (SHIPU). The gathering brought together heads of government institutions to review progress and share challenges.
Mr. Mwesigwa highlighted several key achievements that have occurred since the government took over electricity distribution operations. The number of grid-connected households has grown from 1.68 million to 2.32 million within this short period. The national electricity grid has expanded from 3,431 kilometers to 5,140 kilometers, allowing for wider coverage, especially in rural areas.
In terms of power supply, Uganda’s total installed generation capacity has increased from 1,362 megawatts to 2,049 megawatts. Additionally, the country has seen a notable reduction in electricity losses, which dropped from 19.1% to 16.8%. Mr. Mwesigwa described the government’s decision to take back control from private operators as a major success and commended the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) for accrediting UEDCL, a move he says has helped speed up new power connections.
Despite these achievements, vandalism remains a major challenge affecting access to power, particularly in rural areas. PPDA’s Executive Director, Mr. Benson Turamye, stressed the need for stronger action to address this issue.
Mr. Patrick Birungi, Executive Director of the Uganda Development Corporation and chair of the meeting, concluded by calling for improved public communication. He announced plans to publicise these success stories through media platforms such as NBS TV, NTV, New Vision, and UBC, with upcoming economic forums and summits scheduled to highlight ongoing development efforts.
