Uganda has embarked on a monumental journey towards achieving universal electricity access, launching the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project (EASP) set to bring power to one million new connections across the nation.
With significant financial assistance from the World Bank, the Ugandan government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, on Friday formalised its partnership with the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to kick-start this transformative initiative.
According to Eng. Irene Batebe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the government’s dedication to promoting access through intentional measures like EASP is a game-changing effort to provide more electricity to homes, businesses, and government agencies nationwide.
The EASP is a game-changing effort designed to extend electricity to an unprecedented number of homes, businesses, and government agencies nationwide.
Speaking at Petroleum House in Entebbe, Eng. Batebe, emphasised the government’s unwavering dedication to promoting access through deliberate measures like EASP.
The project sets an ambitious target of one million new connections, with a particular focus on residences located 90 meters or less from an existing Low Voltage (LV) electricity pole.
This strategic approach is a bold step towards empowering communities, achieving universal energy access, and unlocking Uganda’s vast economic potential.
The speed of implementation is already impressive. Mwesigwa Paul, Managing Director of UEDCL, revealed, “We have assembled 550 technicians in the first 100 days of UEDCL to connect up to 50,000 new connections per month, and all materials have already been obtained. Our teams are already in the field connecting new customers on the grid.”
He noted that UEDCL is dedicated to achieving this ambitious goal within the next two years.
Mwesigwa revealed that this project is not merely about extending power lines; it’s about igniting economic growth, fostering digital inclusion, and fundamentally transforming the lives of millions of Ugandans, ensuring that everyone has access to the power they need to thrive.