Ugandans may have to brace for more power blackouts as the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) admits it will need up to two years to stabilise the country’s electricity network.
The company, which took over distribution from Umeme in April 2025, says it inherited an aging and overstretched infrastructure system that requires significant repairs and replacement before reliable supply can be restored.
Speaking during a briefing at the Uganda Media Centre, Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa acknowledged the frustrations caused by ongoing outages but urged patience from the public. She explained that many transformers are either obsolete or overloaded, and that teams are working to install new equipment and repair damaged lines across the country.
“This transition came with challenges we must confront head-on,” Nankabirwa said. “We are replacing old transformers and rehabilitating the grid, but it will take time and resources before Ugandans experience consistent power supply.”
The minister revealed that government has approved a five-year power infrastructure upgrade plan, part of which will be financed through new borrowing. The strategy focuses on modernising distribution systems, improving response to faults, and curbing electricity theft and vandalism two major contributors to persistent outages.
According to UEDCL, the number of households connected to the grid has risen to more than 1.7 million, driven by the ongoing free-meter connection programme. However, the surge in demand has further strained the existing power lines and transformers, leading to frequent breakdowns.
UEDCL’s initial monitoring data estimates a 2 percent outage rate, though consumers and business operators argue that the real impact feels far greater, especially during evening peak hours when blackouts often disrupt operations.
Across the country, communities and small enterprises continue to count losses from recurring power cuts. From health centres struggling to refrigerate vaccines to traders losing perishable goods, the effects of unreliable electricity remain widespread.
Despite the grim outlook, authorities maintain that Uganda’s grid will steadily improve once the ongoing maintenance and network rehabilitation are completed.
“Stabilising supply is a process, not an overnight fix,” Nankabirwa emphasised. “But the work has started, and Ugandans will soon begin to see progress.”