Oct 07, 2025 (Nile Post/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) --
Uganda's march toward universal electrification is both ambitious and fraught with challenges. In a country where energy demand is climbing by 10% each year, the government now finds itself balancing progress with pressure--fighting blackouts, vandalism, and the ghosts of past inefficiencies.
At the Uganda Media Centre, Energy minister Ruth Nankabirwa painted a picture of a sector in transformation--one trying to shake off years of underinvestment while keeping pace with industrial growth and household demand.
"This period of reduced capital investments created real challenges in the distribution network," she admitted. "But since UEDCL assumed full responsibility, significant progress has been made to restore and improve power supply across the country."
Her remarks come in the wake of Uganda's shift from private concessionaire Umeme to the state-run Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL)--a transition that briefly stalled capital inflows and slowed network upgrades.
The effects were felt nationwide: fluctuating voltages, transformer breakdowns, and recurrent outages in both towns and trading centers.
But Nankabirwa insists the tide is turning. In just months, UEDCL has undertaken upgrades across key substations--Kakiri's capacity has doubled from 10MW to 20MW, Kabale's from 2.5MW to 5MW, and Masaka's from 5MW to 7MW.
Over 206 faulty transformers have been replaced, while more than 140,000 new customers have joined the national grid.
And this, the Minister says, is just the beginning.
"By the end of 2025, UEDCL will have refurbished nine substations, installed 518 new transformers, and expanded 40 medium-voltage lines," she revealed.
"Land has already been secured for new substations in Magyigye and Kawempe."
In keeping with the government's Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (Bubu) policy, Nankabirwa said most new components--transformers, cables, and meters--are now sourced from local manufacturers.
"We are deliberately working with local industries to meet growing demand for equipment and materials," she said. "This ensures sustainability and job creation within our economy."
Yet even as the numbers impress, the road ahead remains bumpy. Vandalism and power theft have emerged as the sector's most stubborn saboteurs.
In districts such as Mukono, Masaka, Mpigi, and Mbarara, thieves continue to strip cables, destroy transformers, and siphon valuable oil from power installations.
"Vandalism continues to undermine our progress and cause unnecessary outages for our people," the Minister lamented.
"We are working closely with security agencies to combat this vice, but I call upon all RDCs, local leaders, and citizens to join me in this fight. Let's protect our infrastructure and secure our shared future."
The Ministry has also extended its "Weterezeeee" campaign--an amnesty drive allowing consumers with illegal or tampered connections to regularize their power supply without penalties.
So far, 22,937 Ugandans have responded positively. "Electricity theft not only causes financial losses to the sector but also puts lives and property at risk," Nankabirwa cautioned.
Beyond enforcement, the government is banking on equity in access. Through the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project (EASP), the Ministry is financing "no pole" and "one pole" connections under the Free Electricity Connections Policy--an initiative designed to reach rural and underserved communities without burdening them with installation costs.
Citizens, she said, can now visit the nearest UEDCL offices to confirm eligibility. "We are determined to ensure every Ugandan has safe and affordable access to electricity," Nankabirwa affirmed.
But beneath the optimism lies a broader national question: can Uganda's infrastructure expansion outpace its ballooning demand? With industrial parks mushrooming and rural electrification projects accelerating, the strain on distribution lines is bound to grow.
The Minister believes the answer lies in sustained investment and coordination across the energy chain.
"We are investing in modern, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure to match the country's growing electricity demand," she said confidently.
"The government has approved UEDCL's five-year investment strategy, which will significantly strengthen the distribution network while complementing improvements in generation and transmission."
For a country aiming to power its industries, homes, and ambitions with clean, reliable energy, Uganda's latest power push feels both urgent and inevitable.
Yet as Nankabirwa's tone suggested, it's also a race against time--one that will demand vigilance, innovation, and the collective will to keep the lights on.
Would you like me to make this version sound more magazine-style (more narrative and interpretive, less like a straight news feature), or keep it as a newsroom-ready feature with light commentary?
COMTEX_469347344/2029/2025-10-07T13:34:34
by Pedson Mumbere
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