Uganda launches National Energy Compact targeting 85 percent electricity access by 2030

KAMPALA, November 2, 2026 — Uganda has launched its National Energy Compact, setting a target of increasing electricity access to 85 percent by 2030 while mobilising US$ 17.7 billion in investment to transform the country’s energy sector.

The compact was launched on October 22 by the Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, and the African Development Bank Group at the 11th Africa Energy Market Place [AEMP] in Kampala.

The energy compact sets out data-driven targets, policy reforms and financing commitments intended to support Uganda’s contribution to Mission 300 — a joint initiative of the African Development Bank Group and World Bank Group aimed at connecting 300 million additional people across Africa to electricity by 2030.

The two-day AEMP, held at Kampala Serena Hotel from October 21 to 22 under the theme, “From Mission 300 to Vision 2040: Delivering Uganda’s Energy Ambition,” brought together government officials, energy-sector institutions, development partners and private investors to agree on priorities for implementing the compact.

Participants developed a Uganda Energy Access Investment Brief aligned with Mission 300 and identified Category A projects that should be operational by the end of 2030, as well as Category B projects expected to reach financial close within the same period.

They also agreed on policy and regulatory reforms, with implementation timelines, and resolved to establish a Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit within the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to oversee implementation and accountability.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who formally launched the compact, described it as long overdue and called on private-sector players to play a greater role in Uganda’s energy transformation.

“The value of energy investments is seen in the opportunities it creates for our people — reliable electricity that makes irrigation, processing and cold storage possible for a farmer.”

Energy Minister Monica Masanza said the compact provides a clear implementation framework for Uganda’s energy ambitions.

“Uganda has never lacked ambition. This compact adds a delivery plan with dates, owners and financing behind it. This forum has given us what we asked for: our partners, our utilities, our regulators and our investors around one table, agreeing how to move together. Uganda is ready to deliver.”

The compact targets 85 percent electricity access and 50 percent access to clean cooking by 2030.

It also targets about 2,500 megawatts [MW] of operational generation capacity, with an additional 5,800 MW expected to reach financial close for commissioning after 2030.

Uganda also plans to establish 2,712 mini-grids and increase regional electricity exports to between 500 MW and 650 MW by 2030.

The Government aims to mobilise US$17.7 billion in investment under the compact, including US$9.4 billion in private capital.

African Development Bank Group Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Kevin Kariuki said the compact had aligned Uganda’s national ambitions with a financing and implementation framework.

“Uganda has done what every compact is meant to do, matching a bold national vision with a delivery plan that partners and investors can finance today.”

He said Uganda’s largely untapped renewable energy potential, combined with planned reforms, could strengthen its position in regional electricity trading.

“With its large renewable energy potential, most of which is untapped and of baseload character, as well as planned reforms, including those supporting independent transmission projects, Uganda’s centrality in power trading in the East African Power Pool could be cemented soon,” Kariuki said.

Wale Shonibare, Director for Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation at the African Development Bank Group, said the AEMP was designed to create conditions that would attract private investment into Africa’s energy sector.

“The Africa Energy Market Place exists to build the enabling environment for private capital: the reforms, the instruments and the institutional clarity that let investors commit, and Kampala showed all three.”

Shonibare commended the Government for “owning its reform agenda” and bringing development partners behind a single roadmap for implementation.

The Uganda Energy Compact was first presented at the Africa Energy Forum in June 2026 as part of the third cohort of Mission 300 countries.

The AEMP subsequently served as the first formal consultation on how the compact would be implemented, with the first semi-annual progress report of the Compact Delivery and Monitoring Unit expected in December 2026.

Africa Energy Market Place

Launched in 2018, the Africa Energy Market Place is the African Development Bank Group’s flagship policy dialogue platform for the energy sector, operating under the Africa Energy Technical Assistance Programme.

Uganda is among 26 African countries that have engaged with the Bank through the platform.

Mission 300

Mission 300 is a joint commitment by the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank Group to connect 300 million additional Africans to electricity by 2030.

The African Development Bank Group is responsible for connecting 50 million of those people.

In June 2026, the partnership announced that Mission 300 had already connected more than 50 million people across 40 countries, nearly doubling the pace recorded when the initiative was launched.

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