Jonan Kiiza, Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Affairs, UEDCL
The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has unveiled plans to enhance service delivery amid growing public concern over the persistent power outages affecting the country. According to Jonan Kiiza, UEDCL’s Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Affairs, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has approved a Shs269.6 billion (approximately USD 74 million) investment for the company’s first year of operations.
The funding will be utilized to refurbish power lines, upgrade existing substations, and construct new ones in high-demand areas. Additionally, UEDCL plans to increase the number of transformers and replace malfunctioning ones to enhance the electricity supply nationwide.
Kiiza attributed some of the power outages to the onset of the rainy season, which damaged parts of the distribution infrastructure. However, he emphasized that widespread vandalism of electricity infrastructure in several districts poses a significant challenge. To address this, UEDCL will conduct community barazas to educate the public about the consequences of vandalism and encourage citizens to protect the national electricity grid.
In a bid to improve billing accuracy, UEDCL’s Head of Strategy, Isaac Mufumbiro, revealed that the company is working to replace up to 20,000 faulty prepaid electricity meters across the country. The replacements are expected to begin in the coming weeks, following the procurement of 50,000 new meters.
These developments come as UEDCL attempts to reassure the public of its capacity to manage the power distribution system and meet growing electricity demands nationwide. With these investments and initiatives, UEDCL aims to enhance service delivery and provide reliable electricity to Ugandans.
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