KAMPALA, UGANDA — Uganda is experiencing a notable increase in power outages and load shedding, prompting widespread concern and calls for accountability from relevant authorities. This disruption coincides with the final transition phase from Umeme Ltd.’s expiring 20-year distribution concession to network management by the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (UEDCL) on April 1.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) has acknowledged the current power supply instability affecting various parts of the country, assuring the public of its commitment to ensuring Uganda’s energy needs “are met efficiently and sustainably.”
While emphasizing the relative stability of power supply throughout the previous year, the ministry attributes the current challenges to a surge in demand that has overwhelmed existing capacity. “As the national electricity demand grew, certain substations became overloaded. This has necessitated urgent upgrades to some parts of the electricity transmission and distribution network,” a ministerial statement explained.
Ugandans are accustomed to occasional power supply instability, particularly during the rainy season, a factor that contributed to frequent criticism of Umeme. However, the ministry asserts that stabilizing services remains a top priority. “The Ministry and its key partners have prioritized operational maintenance activities to resolve these reliability issues across the network and improve the efficiency of our power supply system,” the statement added.
The ministry cited several factors contributing to the recent outages, including “critical equipment failure” that disrupted services in affected areas. In regions with intact infrastructure, sections of the power network were unable to handle the load due to insufficient capacity.
Vandalism and theft, particularly along the Kawanda-Masaka Transmission Line, were also highlighted as significant causes of disruption. Furthermore, areas along the Gulu highway, including Kiryandongo and Karuma, are vulnerable to bushfires, which have caused additional damage to transmission lines.
The ministry stated that ongoing interventions, in collaboration with sector agencies, are underway to address these challenges. “Urgent maintenance and upgrade activities are ongoing to enhance the reliability of the power supply and resolve the capacity limitations in various parts of the country,” the statement said.
It further indicated that funding for these interventions has been prioritized to ensure efficient implementation, guaranteeing service continuity and minimizing disruptions.
