The minister of Energy, Ruth Nankabirwa, has lauded the achievements made by the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), 100 days after taking over the distribution of electricity in the country.
UEDCL took over from Umeme on April 1, 2025.
A key achievement, Nankabirwa told journalists today, is the company’s ability to pay 100% of its fees to the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), which she emphasized as critical for financial sustainability in the energy sector.
She praised UEDCL for maintaining stability in vending and billing systems, ensuring uninterrupted electricity token purchases for consumers.
Nankabirwa however expressed frustration over the increasing cases of power theft and vandalism, urging regional authorities, including Regional Police Commanders and Resident District Commissioners, to take decisive action to curb these crimes.
“I am not happy with top government officials who remain silent while power theft is rising across the country,” she stated. She identified Nakasongola, Luwero, Wabigalo, the Elgon region, and Mbarara as areas particularly affected by power theft.
Paul Mwesigwa, UEDCL’s managing director, oulined key milestones achieved in the past 100 days. These include the establishment of 100 service centers nationwide to enhance customer access, a 96% staffing level with 2,601 employees and plans to hire 400 more by July, and efforts to clear a backlog of 127,000 pending connections.
Mwesigwa noted that UEDCL’s operations have been guided by four pillars: talent management, financial sustainability, customer satisfaction, and network availability.
In the fight against power theft and vandalism, Mwesigwa reported significant progress, with 17 suspects already arraigned in court for trial on charges related to these offenses.
This follows joint operations with security agencies, including the Uganda Police Force, which have led to 41 arrests, with 17 charged for vandalizing electricity infrastructure.monitor.co.ugnilepost.co.ug
However, vandalism remains a persistent challenge, particularly in regions like Bunyoro, where UEDCL has raised concerns about the theft of critical components such as aluminium and copper wires, transformers, and electric poles.
These acts have caused widespread outages, increased operational costs, and compromised public safety. Under the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2022, offenders face up to 15 years in prison or fines of up to Shs 2 billion, or both.
Both Nankabirwa and Mwesigwa called on stakeholders and the public to collaborate in protecting the nation’s electricity infrastructure.
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