UEDCL Implements Measures to Strengthen Electricity Supply in Uganda

Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has implemented measures to strengthen electricity supply and address infrastructure constraints amid rapidly growing demand. The company's customer base has grown by approximately 71% over the past five years, from 1.64 million customers in 2021 to approximately 2.8 million today. This rapid expansion has placed increasing pressure on the electricity distribution network, particularly in areas where infrastructure investment and capacity expansion have not kept pace with growing demand.

UEDCL's Acting Managing Director, Eng. Joselynne R. Rwabwogo, outlined targeted interventions being undertaken to address these constraints, alongside longer-term investments to strengthen the network. The company is focusing on addressing capacity constraints in several priority areas, including Gayaza, Namugongo, and the Gayaza corridor. In Gayaza, for example, UEDCL has initiated work on an additional eight-kilometre electricity line that will allow the company to transfer demand to a substation with available capacity.

UEDCL has already implemented network improvements in Seeta, Bukerere, Kawanda, Mbarara, and Bombo, addressing previous supply constraints and improving reliability. In Mubende, network reconfiguration reduced recorded outages from 12 in one month to three the following month. Emergency repairs to underground cables affecting Entebbe, Namasuba, and Kisubi have also been completed. These measures are part of UEDCL's efforts to address immediate constraints while working towards more sustainable improvements.

The company is prioritising immediate interventions to address the most pressing supply challenges while pursuing longer-term infrastructure improvements. UEDCL is also strengthening its capacity to respond to faults affecting electricity supply by increasing the number of technicians supporting network operations and providing additional standby personnel when required. During the year ending July 2026, the company replaced 1,110 distribution transformers, exceeding its target of 853.

UEDCL is addressing the inherited backlog of electricity connection applications, which was compounded by previous constraints in meter supply. The company has sufficient meter supplies at the moment and is working closely with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to accelerate meter testing and clearance. This is helping UEDCL make more meters available for installation and increase the number of customers being connected.

UEDCL has identified an estimated USD 994 million in infrastructure investment requirements over the next five years to expand electricity access, improve network reliability, and modernise ageing infrastructure. This includes approximately USD 107 million identified for priority projects through December 2027, focusing on network rehabilitation and capacity expansion. The company is also undertaking preventive maintenance, including vegetation clearance and replacement of ageing equipment.

Strengthening electricity distribution infrastructure will be essential to supporting Uganda's growing energy needs and the country's Tenfold Growth Strategy. Reliable electricity is essential to supporting industrial growth, healthcare, agriculture, businesses, and households. The return of electricity distribution to public management presents a unique opportunity for Uganda to bolster local technical expertise and reinvest resources into infrastructure improvements, resulting in tangible benefits for consumers, including a reduction in the end-user electricity tariff.

Key points

• UEDCL has grown its customer base by approximately 71% over the past five years.
• The company has identified an estimated USD 994 million in infrastructure investment requirements over the next five years.
• UEDCL replaced 1,110 distribution transformers during the year ending July 2026, exceeding its target of 853.