Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa Sentamu has assured UMEME employees that 90% of them have been successfully recruited into the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) as the country's electricity distribution landscape shifts.
However, 191 workers have been left out of the transition process.
Umeme’s 20-year concession officially ends on March 31. The transition has been closely monitored, with concerns over job security and service continuity.
The minister also addressed the operational challenges in power supply, emphasizing that when faults occur, there are no quick fixes.
“If a pole has fallen down, I don’t have a diversion—I have to switch it off,” she stated.
She further explained that transformer repairs require shutting down affected areas. “If it is a transformer that I want to fix, I don’t have a diversion. People who depend on that transformer must be switched off.”
Nankabirwa also highlighted a major issue affecting Uganda’s power sector—vandalism of infrastructure.
“It is people’s relatives who vandalize the power supply system,” she said, urging communities to take responsibility for protecting electricity infrastructure.
Acknowledging the frustrations caused by power outages, she called for patience. “Contradictions are common, and I ask people to be tolerant,” she appealed, urging the public to understand the challenges of the transition.
As the government takes full control of electricity distribution, the shift marks a significant milestone in Uganda’s energy sector. While most Umeme staff have secured jobs at UEDCL, the fate of the 191 left out remains uncertain.