Government explains ongoing power outages

30 July 2026, 9:27 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Hon. Monica Musenero, has addressed concerns over persistent power outages affecting Kampala and other parts of the country, assuring Ugandans that the situation is temporary and will be resolved by August 8, 2026.

Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the Minister apologized for the inconvenience, attributing the interruptions to ongoing electricity infrastructure upgrades being undertaken by the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).

According to the Minister, since UEDCL took over electricity distribution, more than 2.7 million households and businesses have been connected to the national grid. She explained that the increasing demand for electricity has necessitated improvements to the distribution network to ensure a more reliable supply.

Hon. Musenero said power interruptions will continue in some areas until the ongoing upgrade works are completed, adding that the new substations and network improvements will significantly enhance electricity distribution across the country.

The Executive Director of UEDCL, Eng. Rwabogo Rwakakoko, said the company is implementing 12 major projects aimed at strengthening the electricity distribution network and improving service delivery.

He urged members of the public to obtain information about planned outages through UEDCL’s official communication channels rather than contacting field staff, noting that customer inquiries will be handled promptly through the company’s established platforms.

The Minister also condemned acts of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure and appealed to the public to report those involved. She revealed that about 70,000 new electricity connections have been completed this year, while over 500,000 pending applications are expected to be addressed following the arrival of additional electricity meters.