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 improve by 8 August 2026.

Speaking at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, the minister apologised for the inconvenience caused by the interruptions, attributing them to ongoing electricity infrastructure upgrades being carried out by the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).

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

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

UEDCL Executive Director 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, saying customer inquiries will be addressed through established platforms.

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