Gov’t receives Shs 40bln to connect rural areas to electricity
KAMPALA, March 19, 2025 – The Government of Uganda has received a €10 million [approximately Shs 40 billion] grant to improve electricity access in the country’s rural and peri-urban areas.
The grant, provided by the European Union [EU] and the French Development Agency [AFD], will be administered by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.
Eng. Abdon Atwiine, the Commissioner for Rural Electrification at the Energy ministry, stated: “This planned project, once realised, will further bridge the electricity access gap, enhance economic opportunities, and improve the living standards of our people.”
“We will ensure that our communities are well-informed and prepared to take full advantage of this project. We are excited about the positive results it will bring,” Atwiine added.
Martin Ssejemba, the LCV Chairman of Mpigi District, said: “We will ensure that our communities are well-prepared to benefit from this project. We’re excited about the positive results it will bring.”
The project aims to accelerate Uganda’s efforts to provide sustainable, reliable, and affordable electricity to rural and peri-urban communities. Access to electricity through the national grid is one of the challenges Ugandans currently face, with overall electricity access standing at 60 percent, of which only 22 percent is connected to the national grid.
Officials have stated that this low level of access has hindered economic development, limited access to essential services, and worsened social inequalities.
The project is set to provide up to 40,000 new electricity connections in rural and peri-urban communities.
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