The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) is taking a strategic and pivotal role in driving the nation’s economic growth.
During the 2025 Electricity Dialogue held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the UMA Showground in Kampala, UEDCL Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa reaffirmed the company’s strong commitment to the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) policy.
According to Mwesigwa, this approach, which prioritises local procurement and supports domestic industries, is not just about a reliable power supply; it’s about building a self-sustaining cycle of shared prosperity.
Commitment to Local Industry
Mwesigwa revealed that UEDCL has moved beyond being a traditional utility provider to becoming a key partner in Uganda’s industrialisation.
“The company has made a deliberate effort to source essential materials, including electricity transformers, poles, and meters, from local manufacturers,” Mwesigwa said.
“This is a direct implementation of the BUBU policy, which is designed to boost domestic production, create jobs, and reduce reliance on imports,” he added.
In a move that solidifies this commitment, Mwesigwa revealed that UEDCL has an impressive Shs285 billion (USD74 million) investment budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, with a significant portion allocated to local procurement.
The company, he observed, has even secured special accreditation from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority (PPDA) to ring-fence contracts for local firms, ensuring that even large-scale projects benefit Ugandan businesses.
He stressed that this policy directly supports local companies like Transmax Limited for transformers, Kampala Pole Treatment Plant Ltd and The New Forest Company Ltd for poles, among many others.
The Cycle of Shared Growth
Mwesigwa highlighted the core philosophy behind this strategy, emphasising that by empowering local manufacturers and industries, UEDCL creates a virtuous cycle of growth.
“By empowering local manufacturers and industries,” he said, “UEDCL not only supports job creation but also stimulates economic activity, as the very Ugandans employed in these industries become part of our customer base, sustaining a cycle of shared growth and development.”
This approach, he pointed out, ensures that the money UEDCL spends circulates within the Ugandan economy, creating a ripple effect that extends from the factory floor to household consumption. It is a powerful model for how a government agency can use its procurement power as a tool for national development.
By ensuring a reliable and quality power supply, UEDCL is removing a critical bottleneck for industrial growth.
This commitment, combined with its strategic support for local content, positions the company as a true catalyst for Uganda’s economic transformation, proving that when a national asset invests in its own people, the entire nation benefits.