Published on 16/10/2025
Lawmakers have raised alarm over alleged plans by “mafias and sharks” to push out the state-owned Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) and replace it with a private firm, a move they warn could revive the controversial Umeme concession era.
The warning ca me from Bukanga North MP Nathan Byanyima during an October 8, 2025, meeting between Parliament’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. The session focused on persistent nationwide power outages and the state of Uganda’s power distribution and transmission infrastructure.
“We must be vigilant. There are mafias in the corridors plotting to dismantle UEDCL and bring in a private company,” Byanyima cautioned. “We need to stand firm and support UEDCL. These sharks in Kampala are waiting for any opportunity to reintroduce private players. Even brief outages spark complaints, but we must be patient with UEDCL, which is severely underfunded. The Ministry of Energy needs resources to succeed.”
Byanyima’s remarks coincided with the Ministry of Finance’s announcement of UGX 361.55 billion in funding to the Energy Ministry for the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The package includes UGX 125.59 billion from domestic sources and UGX 232.95 billion in external financing, aimed at supporting rural electrification, expanding transmission lines, and advancing major projects such as the Karuma Hydropower Plant.
Lawmakers’ appeals for patience with UEDCL mirror Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa’s recent statement attributing the ongoing blackouts to the dilapidated infrastructure inherited from Umeme at the end of its concession. She said comprehensive repairs could take at least two more years.
Byanyima also faulted the government for prioritizing electricity exports to neighboring countries, including Rwanda, Kenya, and South Sudan, while many Ugandans remain unconnected despite their ability to pay for power.
“We can’t prioritize exports when Ugandans are in darkness,” he said. “In my constituency, power lines pass over homes, yet people are denied access while we sell electricity to Sudan, Rwanda, and Tanzania.”
Responding to the criticism, State Minister for Energy Okaasai Opolot acknowledged challenges in extending electricity access but defended the exports, saying they generate critical foreign revenue for the economy.
According to Bank of Uganda, Uganda’s electricity export revenues have grown by 43% over the past five years, from US$21 million in June 2020 to US$48.8 million in June 2024. The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) reports that as of June 2024, Uganda’s installed generation capacity stood at 2,048.1 megawatts, while domestic consumption was about 987.9 megawatts as of December 2023.
Lawmakers also raised concerns over escalating vandalism of power infrastructure. Responding to Soroti East MP Herbert Ariko, Minister Okaasai revealed that 62 convictions have been secured for electricity-related vandalism so far.
Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, said the government is intensifying community sensitization campaigns in districts such as Mpigi, Jinja, Bugiri, and Mbale to address the problem.
“We’re working with local governments through barazas and radio talk shows to educate communities about the dangers of vandalism,” Bateebe said. “It’s a continuous effort to protect infrastructure and improve electricity access nationwide.”
