The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has defended the persistent power outages affecting various parts of the country, citing inherited aging infrastructure, system overload, and vandalism as the primary causes.
Addressing journalists in Kampala on Monday, Jonan Kiiza, the Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Affairs at UEDCL, said the utility inherited a severely deteriorated distribution network from UMEME, whose 20-year concession ended in March 2025.
“We require investments in the gaps that emerged when UMEME stopped reinvesting in the grid after it was announced their concession would not be renewed,” Kiiza stated. “For three years, there was little to no investment, while demand for electricity grew at an average of 12.7% annually.”
Kiiza revealed that more than 47,000 electricity poles across the country are currently due for replacement. Many of these poles are collapsing during storms and heavy rains, contributing to the frequent outages.
In addition to aging infrastructure, Kiiza noted that 13 major substations have exceeded 80% of their capacity, resulting in routine load shedding as the grid struggles to meet consumer demand.
The company also pointed to an alarming rise in vandalism of power infrastructure, with Kiiza citing five recent cases in Kololo alone, which he said directly caused outages in the area.
“Every act of vandalism undermines the stability of the network. When key infrastructure is damaged or stolen, entire neighborhoods are affected,” he said.
Despite the current challenges, UEDCL says there is hope on the horizon.
Kiiza said they have secured a $74 million investment for the 2025/2026 financial year to support major upgrades to the national electricity distribution network.
“This investment will help stabilize the grid and reduce outages significantly,” Kiiza assured.
UEDCL assumed control of power distribution after UMEME’s exit and is currently overseeing a transition process aimed at modernizing and improving Uganda’s electricity supply across both urban and rural regions.