UEDCL adds over 640,000 new customers in six months after UMEME takeover
UEDCL Managing Director, Paul Mwesigwa, revealed that the number of connected customers has grown from 1,782,085 in April to 2,430,489 by September 2025.
KAMPALA, September 18, 2025 – The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited [ UEDCL ] has recorded 648,404 new power connections within the first six months of assuming national electricity distribution responsibilities from UMEME, according to the company’s top leadership.
UEDCL Managing Director, Paul Mwesigwa, revealed that the number of connected customers has grown from 1,782,085 in April to 2,430,489 by September 2025. The state-owned enterprise took over electricity distribution following the expiry of UMEME’s 20-year concession, which was not renewed due to unmet performance targets.
Mwesigwa made the announcement during the weekly meeting of the State House Investors’ Protection Unit [SHIPU], which brings together heads of government agencies to reflect on progress and shared challenges.
Among other milestones, UEDCL also reported a significant rise in grid-connected households, from 1,687,267 to 2,327,898, over the same period. The national electricity grid has expanded from 3,431 kilometres to 5,140km, and total installed generation capacity has increased from 1,362 megawatts to 2,049 megawatts.
Energy losses have also reduced notably, from 19.1 percent to 16.8 percent, signalling improved efficiency under government management.
“The government took a decisive step to take over all privately-operated electricity concessions. That in itself is a major achievement, and one where government has truly excelled,” Mwesigwa stated.
The fifth edition of the SHIPU weekly meeting was chaired by Patrick Birungi, Executive Director of the Uganda Development Corporation [UDC], and attended by several other heads of government agencies.
Broader government collaboration
Also in attendance was Benson Turamye, Executive Director of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority [PPDA]; Prof Bruce Kirenga, Principal of Makerere University College of Health Sciences; and Desmond Tutu Opio, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company [UECCC], who represented his organisation’s Managing Director.
Other dignitaries included Walid Kule, Assistant Commissioner at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau [URSB], standing in for the Registrar General, and Edward Katende, CEO of the Uganda Development Forum [UDF], alongside Osborn Turyasingura, head of the Secretariat for Special Interest Groups.
Mwesigwa commended PPDA for accrediting UEDCL, saying the move had significantly improved the speed and efficiency of making new power connections.
Energy access through renewable solutions
Speaking on behalf of UECCC, Opio outlined the company’s mandate to improve access to renewable energy solutions across Uganda.
“Our target is to reduce the share of biomass energy used for cooking from 86 percent in the 2018/19 financial year to 50 percent by 2025. We aim to reach more than 353,000 households,” he said.
He noted that UECCC is implementing the financial intermediation component of the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project [EASP], valued at US$ 110 million. The project, which offers subsidies for renewable energy, is being delivered in partnership with 27 financial institutions and 87 solar energy companies.
So far, the entity has disbursed over Shs 134 billion towards lowering the cost of solar equipment, with support from the World Bank and European development partners such as GIZ and the Dutch government.
Achievements over the past year include distribution of 20,200 solar lanterns, 306,000 home solar systems, 307 carbonised biomass cookstoves, 1,190 solar-powered water pumps, and 277 solar-powered refrigerators. These have reached remote districts such as Mayuge and Pakwach, with partnerships involving companies like Stabex.
Concerns and way forward
Turamye of PPDA highlighted vandalism as a persistent challenge undermining electricity access, particularly in rural areas. “This is an issue that must be followed up urgently,” he said.
Kule of URSB praised UEDCL for its rapid and effective takeover, urging that the government’s achievements be widely publicised through mainstream and digital media.
Katende echoed this sentiment, calling for a comprehensive communications strategy to promote success stories from across the public sector.
In his concluding remarks, meeting chair Birungi urged all agencies to intensify public awareness through TV, radio, newspapers, and digital platforms.
https://thecooperator.news/umeme-reports-shs-511bln-loss-seeks-shs-1trn-buyout/
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