Over 900,000 Homes For National Grid Connections
Eng. Irene Pauline Bateebe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy (centre), UEDCL’s Managing Director, Paul Mwesigwa (right), and other Ministry officials at the signing of the agreement
More than 900,000 households are set to access grid electricity after the Government sealed two deals with UEDCL, releasing 2.4 trillion ($638 million) under the Electricity Access Scale-Up. The project aims at universal electricity grid access by 2030. (EASP).
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development said at the signing ceremony that the agreements are a major milestone in the country’s electrification journey and energy transition plan.
Eng. Irene Pauline Bateebe noted that, “These two agreements are part of the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project, a flagship initiative supported by the World Bank. The first agreement focuses on grid expansion and household connectivity, while the second enables financial intermediation and off-grid energy access through private sector partnerships.”
The $638 million project, which became effective in 2023, will facilitate at least 1,075,000 new power connections by 2027, with UEDCL alone tasked with delivering over 900,000 of those.
The government aims to scale electricity access from the current 60% to 100% by the end of the decade, as part of Uganda’s Vision 2040 and National Development Plan IV.
Under the Free Electricity Connection Policy, beneficiaries within 90 metres of a low-voltage pole will receive connections at no cost—a move expected to benefit the poor, rural populations, refugee-hosting districts, and small enterprises.
“We are targeting households, schools, health centres, agro-processors, mining fields, and industrial parks. Electricity is no longer a luxury—it’s a catalyst for poverty eradication, job creation, and transformation,” Bateebe emphasized.
The project also promotes clean cooking technologies and is expected to unlock 500 MW of additional demand for both on-grid and off-grid energy. Mapping of underserved areas such as Madi Okollo, Obongi, and the Lake Victoria islands is already underway.
UEDCL’s Managing Director, Paul Mwesigwa, assured the public of the company’s readiness to deliver results. “We have already hired 550 technicians and are onboarding an additional 400 to clear a backlog of 127,000 connection applications. Thirty thousand have already been
