Traders operating in arcades across Kampala are up in arms, demanding that the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) halt its use of bulk metering systems, which they say are fuelling exploitation by landlords and inflating electricity costs.
The outcry was voiced during a business climate dialogue organized by the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), where traders, under the umbrella of the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), criticized the bulk billing method as unjust and unsustainable for small businesses.
“We are being cheated. Landlords are using the bulk meter arrangement to charge us two or even three times the actual cost. It is unfair and we need individual meters, so we pay for what we consume,” said Issa Ssekito, KACITA Spokesperson.
According to the traders, the transition of electricity distribution from Umeme to UEDCL in April 2025 has done little to address longstanding concerns about arcade metering. Instead, many claim the situation has worsened, with some reporting more frequent blackouts and reduced units for the same amount paid.
UEDCL Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa responded to the concerns, acknowledging the traders’ frustrations but insisting that immediate rollout of individual meters is not feasible due to technical challenges.
“We recognize the benefits of individual metering. However, without adequate monitoring systems, it would expose the distribution network to massive power theft,” Mwesigwa stated.
He revealed that UEDCL is working with meter manufacturers to introduce tamper-detection technology that can monitor usage beyond the main meter. This, he said, is a prerequisite for any move away from the current bulk system.
Meanwhile, a quarterly business survey conducted by the EPRC, presented at the same forum, revealed a broader dissatisfaction with electricity service quality. About 74% of businesses reported increased outages, with many questioning whether they are receiving fewer power units under UEDCL despite no official tariff hike.
UEDCL officials attributed this perception to timing and tax-related deductions in purchase transactions, not changes in the base cost of power.
Still, traders are demanding faster reforms, saying the current model leaves them vulnerable to arbitrary billing by landlords and disrupts operations in one of the country’s most economically vital sectors.