By David Mwanje
Since reclaiming Umeme’s assets on April 1, 2025, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has made remarkable progress in transforming the nation’s electricity sector. Under Managing Director Mwesigwa Paul, UEDCL is strengthening its workforce, ensuring financial stability, enhancing customer service, and improving network reliability to power Uganda’s future.
UEDCL has filled 96% of its 2,712 staff positions, onboarding 2,601 employees from Umeme and UEDCL’s existing pool. The remaining 4% of specialized roles were advertised externally in June 2025. To meet Electricity Regulatory Authority and World Bank targets for new connections, 550 staff have been deployed nationwide, with 400 additional technicians set to join by July’s end. “We’ve aligned our workforce to deliver exceptional service and drive Uganda’s energy goals,” Paul said. This strategic recruitment ensures UEDCL can handle rising demand while fostering a culture of productivity across its 100 offices.
Financially, UEDCL has achieved a 104% year-to-date cash collection rate, enabling timely payment of UETCL bills totaling Shs 220.5 billion for March and April 2025. The May bill of Shs 164 billion is on track for clearance. A USD 50 million loan from ABSA for infrastructure upgrades is under review by the Solicitor General and Ministry of Finance, and UEDCL has secured PPDA accreditation to boost operational efficiency. “Our financial discipline allows us to meet obligations and invest in critical growth,” Paul noted. These efforts ensure sustainability while funding vital network improvements.
Customer service remains a priority, with a 24/7 call center and skilled field teams maintaining robust engagement during the transition. Ongoing staff training aligns employees with UEDCL’s operational processes, reducing response times and enhancing service delivery. “We’re keeping customers at the heart of this transition,” Paul emphasized. This focus ensures Ugandans experience minimal disruptions as UEDCL refines its operations and builds trust.
Network reliability has improved to 97.8% in June 2025, up from 97.1% in March, despite challenges like vandalism, aging infrastructure, and overloaded transformers. UEDCL replaced 116 faulty transformers in April and is addressing a backlog of issues, including 47,000 rotten poles and vegetation overgrowth. June’s demand of 1,044.18 MW was met by a 1,099 MW generation capacity, avoiding load shedding. Substation upgrades, such as Mbarara North (from 20MVA to 40MVA) and Kabale-Kisoro (from 2.5MVA to 5MVA), are underway, though constrained 132/33kV substations like Namanve North and Mutundwe need urgent attention. “We’re tackling infrastructure gaps to deliver reliable power for all,” Paul affirmed.
Despite a 17.15% energy loss rate against a 14.59% target, UEDCL’s strong cash collections and projects like the Magyigye substation signal progress. With planned maintenance, new substations, and initiatives like the Masaka West–Masaka Central interconnector, UEDCL is modernizing Uganda’s power network to ensure reliable, sustainable electricity for years to come.
