UEDCL Gains Over 640,000 New Connections in Six Months Since Umeme Takeover

Within just six months since Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) took over operations from Umeme, the government utility has added 648,404 new customer connections to the national grid, officials have revealed.

According to UEDCL’s Managing Director, Mr. Paul Mwesigwa, the company’s customer base has grown from 1,782,085 to 2,430,489 since April 2025, when UEDCL assumed management from Umeme.

Mr. Mwesigwa announced on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, during a weekly meeting hosted by the State House Investors’ Protection Unit (SHIPU), which brings together government agencies to share achievements and discuss challenges.

Among other achievements highlighted was a significant rise in grid-connected households, which increased from 1,687,267 to 2,327,898 over the same period. The grid length expanded from 3,431 km to 5,140 km, while total installed generation capacity grew from 1,362 megawatts to 2,049 megawatts.

Energy losses also dropped notably, from 19.1% to 16.8%, a reduction Mr. Mwesigwa attributed to improved efficiency under UEDCL management.

“The government took a fundamental decision to take over all the privately operated concessionaires. That is a fundamental achievement, and in that regard, the government has scored very well,” Mr. Mwesigwa said.

The weekly SHIPU meeting, now in its fifth edition, was attended by several top executives of government agencies. These included Mr. Patrick Birungi, Executive Director of Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) and chair of the session; Mr. Benson Turamye, Executive Director of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA); and Prof. Bruce Kirenga, Principal of Makerere College of Health Sciences.

Also in attendance were Mr. Desmond Tutu Opio, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist representing the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC); Mr. Kule Walid, Assistant Commissioner at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB); Mr. Edward Katende, CEO of Uganda Development Forum (UDF); and Mr. Osborn Turyasingura, Head of the Secretariat for Special Interest Groups, alongside SHIPU staff.

Mr. Mwesigwa commended PPDA for accrediting UEDCL, saying the move has enhanced the speed of new connections.

Meanwhile, UECCC’s Mr. Opio outlined the company’s role in promoting renewable energy. He noted that Uganda has been working to reduce reliance on biomass for cooking—from 86% in FY 2018/19 to a targeted 50% by 2025—and said the company is aiming to reach 353,000 households.

UECCC is also implementing the financial intermediation component of the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project (EASP) with a ticket size of USD 110 million. Through partnerships with 27 financial institutions and 87 energy companies, the company has mobilised over UGX 134 billion and an additional USD 10 million from the World Bank and development partners including GIZ and the Dutch government.

As a result, more than 20,200 solar lanterns, 306,000 home systems, 307 carbonised biomass cookstoves, 1,190 solar-powered water pumps, and 277 solar-powered refrigerators have been deployed in districts such as Mayuge and Pakwach, often in collaboration with private sector partners like Stabex.

However, PPDA’s Mr. Turamye raised concern about vandalism, noting it continues to undermine access to power, particularly in rural areas.

“It is a takeaway that needs follow-up,” he stressed.

Other participants praised UEDCL’s swift transition and strong performance. Mr. Kule urged wider publicity of the company’s achievements, while Mr. Katende recommended packaging government success stories for broader dissemination.

In closing the meeting, Mr. Birungi emphasized the importance of ensuring the public is fully informed about these achievements through traditional media as well as online and digital platforms for mass outreach.