Energizing Uganda’s Transformation: UEDCL’s First 100 Days of National Power Distribution and the Road to a Resilient Future

July 9, 2025

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Paul Mwesigwa – MD UEDCL

The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has commemorated a landmark—100 days of uninterrupted national electricity distribution since officially assuming the mandate on April 1, 2025. This occasion signifies more than a managerial handover; it represents a decisive turning point in the evolution of Uganda’s power sector, characterized by resilience, strategic clarity, and a people-first philosophy. As the country executes its “Big Switch,” UEDCL emerges not merely as a distributor of power—but as an architect of inclusive national development.

Anchoring Reform on Four Strategic Pillars

UEDCL’s blueprint for transformation has been underpinned by four cardinal pillars: talent management, financial sustainability, customer service excellence, and network availability. These interwoven components form the scaffolding upon which the organization is restoring efficiency, trust, and nationwide connectivity.

Talent Management: Empowering Human Capital for a National Cause

Human capital lies at the heart of UEDCL’s transformation. In line with the concession requirements, 2,601 professionals representing 96% of the organizational structure have been successfully integrated from the outgoing concessionaire, Umeme. The remaining 4% of strategic vacancies are currently being filled through a nationwide competitive recruitment process initiated in June 2025.

UEDCL is not merely recruiting—it is redefining culture. Through intensive change management programs deployed across 100 regional offices, staff are being realigned with a high-performance, service-oriented ethos. This people-first strategy is further demonstrated by the aggressive resolution of legacy service backlogs: of the 127,000 pending customer connections inherited at takeover, thousands have already been activated through a specialized deployment of 550 new technicians, with 400 more to join by July’s end. Once complete, UEDCL’s workforce will surpass 3,600 personnel, signaling both scale and readiness.

Financial Sustainability: A Sound and Credible Utility in Motion

From day one, UEDCL prioritized financial stewardship—a critical pillar in safeguarding sector-wide sustainability. As of this report, cash collections have exceeded 104%, a remarkable feat for any public-sector utility and a testament to system stability, robust customer trust, and efficient operations.

Key among its obligations, UEDCL has already disbursed UGX 220 billion to the national transmission agency, fulfilling all current and inherited liabilities. This proactive settlement strengthens the energy ecosystem by ensuring timely compensation to generators, thereby preserving generation reliability.

In parallel, $49 million has been mobilized through the regulated tariff to finance capital investments, while an additional $50 million in commercial borrowing is pending legal clearance from the Solicitor General. These injections will catalyze large-scale infrastructure upgrades across the national grid. Additionally, the company’s recent accreditation by the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) heralds a new era of procurement agility, an essential enabler of timely asset deployment such as transformers, switchgears, and substations.

Customer Experience: Round-the-Clock Service as a Public Right

Customer experience is no longer aspirational, it is foundational. UEDCL has institutionalized 24/7 multi-channel support, ensuring citizens can access real-time assistance through call centers, mobile platforms, and in-person interventions.

The company has also reinforced its field response teams with skilled technical personnel operating day and night particularly along critical substations and feeders to resolve faults swiftly and safely. This posture reflects a corporate ethos where “no Ugandan shall remain in darkness” is not a slogan, but an operational imperative.

Network Availability: Reinforcing Uganda’s Power Backbone

At the core of UEDCL’s mandate lies the unwavering mission to deliver reliable, stable, and quality electricity to every Ugandan. In just three months, network reliability has risen to 97.8%, up from 97.1% in March 2025, through decisive interventions including emergency transformer replacements, resolution of overload points, and proactive line repairs.

The company inherited 116 compromised transformers at takeover; it has since embarked on an ambitious initiative to insert over 518 new transformers to improve voltage integrity and distribution efficiency. In key zones like Kawanda, Matuga and Mbale North, capacity has already been doubled to 40MW, while Solo’s coverage has expanded from 2.5MW to 7.5MW.

Yet challenges persist. At least 11 critical substations—including Namagongo, Mutundwe, Kumi, Kampala South, Queen’s Way, Kireka, Lugogo, and Kawanda—are operating beyond 80% of capacity. These high-risk nodes form part of UEDCL’s investment blueprint for 2025/26.

To ease pressure on the eastern corridor, construction of a new Majje-Gayaza substation is underway. Once commissioned, it will provide substantial relief to high-growth areas such as Kira, Kasangati, Namagongo, and Mukono, with completion targeted within six to nine months subject to global supply chain flows.

In western Uganda, Kasese and Kanyantorogo substations are being rehabilitated to enhance regional grid stability. These upgrades have already prompted an 8% increase in national energy purchase, reflecting both expanded access and latent demand.

Zero Tolerance for Vandalism and Electricity Theft

Despite progress, UEDCL is contending with persistent threats posed by infrastructure vandalism and illegal connections. These criminal acts undermine public safety, distort revenue collection, and delay legitimate service provision.

In recent weeks, 17 offenders have been arraigned in court, with additional arrests underway. The utility has launched a nationwide verification campaign encouraging customers to validate their meters, those not on record will receive free replacements before October 1, 2025. Thereafter, unauthorized connections will face enforcement, including legal action and penalties.

Energy Losses: Confronting Technical and Commercial Realities

Energy losses have increased marginally from 16.3% to 17.2%, largely due to commercial theft. UEDCL acknowledges this trend and is deploying robust anti-fraud operations, forensic audits, and system audits to reverse the trajectory.

Through greater public awareness, digital monitoring, and community collaboration, the company aims to drive losses well below legacy benchmarks and restore sectoral discipline.

CTA – Lighting the Path to Uganda’s Economic Transformation

As UEDCL moves beyond the 100-day benchmark, it enters a new strategic phase—one focused on network modernization, financial resilience, human capital investment, and national trust-building. The mission is clear: to transition Uganda from episodic connectivity to a future of universal, uninterrupted, and affordable electricity access.

In an era where electrification underpins economic competitiveness, industrialization, and digital innovation, UEDCL is no longer just maintaining infrastructure—it is enabling a transformation.

Uganda is rising. And in this ascent, UEDCL stands as the pulse of progress, the beacon of reliability, and the conductor of national ambition.

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