Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd has over 640,000 new connections — MD
Among the other achievements, Mwesigwa also reported an increase in the number of grid-connected households, which have significantly grown from 1,687,267 to 2,327,898 within the same period.
UEDCL’s Managing Director, Paul Mwesigwa. (PPU)
By Vision Reporter
Journalists @New Vision
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Within the first six months since Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) took over UMEME, the government entity has added 648,404 new connections (customers) to the national grid, top management has revealed.
This revelation made by UEDCL’s Managing Director, Paul Mwesigwa, indicates that the number of new connections has increased from 1,782,085 to 2,430,489 since April, when the entity took over management from UMEME (a private player).
Mr Mwesigwa made this announcement on Tuesday, September 16, at the State House Investors’ Protection Unit (SHIPU) during a weekly meeting for leaders of government agencies to discuss government achievements and shared challenges.
Among the other achievements, Mwesigwa also reported an increase in the number of grid-connected households, which have significantly grown from 1,687,267 to 2,327,898 within the same period.
The grid length has also increased over the past half year from 3,431 km to 5,140 km, while the total installed generation capacity has seen an increase from 1,362 megawatts to 2,049 megawatts.
The MD also highlighted that energy losses have significantly decreased from 19.1% to a low of 16.8%, according to a media handout from the Presidential Press Unit.
Mwesigwa commended PPDA for the accreditation of UEDCL, saying this move has enhanced the speed of making new connections, which he says are now much faster.
Desmond Tutu Opio, Senior Monitoring & Evaluation specialist Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC) speaking. PPU PHOTO
Mr Desmond Tutu Opio, a senior Monitoring and Evaluation specialist at Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company, shared the vision and mission of UECCC, which is mandated to catalyse access to renewable energy solutions countrywide.
“We were meant to reduce the share of biomass energy used for cooking from 86% in the Financial Year (FY) 18/19 to 50% by 2025. We are targeting to reach over 353,000 households,” he stated.
He also said UECCC is implementing the financial intermediation component of the EASP project with a ticket size of $110m, which is a subsidy scheme.
He revealed that under this, the entity has been able to partner with 27 financial institutions and 87 energy companies that sell solar equipment.
Opio also reported that UECCC mobilised funding to the tune of $10 million from the World Bank and other development partners from Europe, such as GIZ and the Dutch government.
Achievements over the past year he added include distribution of: 20,200 solar lanterns, 306,000 home systems and 307 carbonised biomass cookstoves, as well as 1,190 solar-powered water pumps and 277 solar-powered refrigerators in Mayuge and Pakwach districts.
Benson Turamye, Executive Director of Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) remarking. PPU PHOTO
Mr Benson Turamye, the ED of Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), reported that vandalism is still contributing to poor access to power, especially in rural areas.
On his part, Mr Kule Walid, an Assistant Commissioner at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), commended UEDCL for the swift takeover, saying the results are really encouraging.
Mr Edward Katende, the CEO of Uganda Development Forum, suggested that there should be a way to break down all these success stories that the government has achieved and publicise them on all possible platforms.
Leaders of various government agencies attending the meeting. PPU PHOTO
In his conclusion, Mr Patrick Birungi, the Executive Director of Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), the chairperson of the meeting, recommended that the dissemination of such achievements should be amplified.
(L-R) Benson Turamye, Executive Director of Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA), Patrick Birungi, Executive Director Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) and Paul Mwesigwa, Managing Director Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) interacting during the meeting held at State House Investors Protection Unit Offices on Tuesday September 16, 2025. PPU PHOTO
Prof. Bruce Kirenga, the principal of Makerere College of Health Sciences and Mr Osborn Turyasingura, who heads the secretariat for special interest groups, also attended the meeting.