Just four months after taking over from Umeme as Uganda’s national power supplier, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), led by Paul Mwesigwa as Managing Director, is facing intense scrutiny from Members of Parliament over allegations of illegal electricity connection fees and systemic failures in the country’s electrification drive.
A heated parliamentary debate on Friday, presided over by the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and led by MP Abed Bwanika, revealed that there’s a widespread crisis of unaccountable charges and stalled projects, sparking a demand for urgent government intervention.
During a plenary session, Hon. Abed Bwanika, the Kimanya-Kabonero Division MP, raised alarm over a Shs100,000 fee allegedly being demanded by UEDCL staff for electricity connections, despite the government having secured loans to expand electricity access.
“The Government borrowed funds to enhance electricity access… yet, at electricity offices, people are charged an extra Shs100,000. Why is this happening? Where are the promised poles, and when will these homes get power?” Bwanika asked.
Speaker Among supported these claims, calling the issue “widespread” and sharing her own experience of similar “facilitation” charges in her home district of Bukedea.
Illegal Charges and Delayed Connections
However, the State Minister for Energy, Sidronius Okaasai, swiftly declared the alleged Shs100,000 fee “illegal,” stating that the only legitimate charge is a Shs41,300 inspection fee to verify wiring and survey details. He promised to investigate the allegations, but the debate had already exposed a broader crisis of public trust and accountability.
It was discovered that the issue extends far beyond unofficial fees. Legislators from across the country detailed a litany of electrification failures:
Stranded Lines and Unpowered Poles
MPs Rose Obigah (Terego Woman Representative) and Silas Aogon (Kumi Municipality) highlighted constituencies where poles and lines have been installed for years but remain without power.
Obigah noted that in her refugee-hosting district, “poles are installed but lack power,” while Aogon pointed to 3km of lines in Kumi that have been vandalised and unpowered since 2017.
Unreliable Supply and Lost Investments
Alfred Edakasi (Kaberamaido County) raised concerns that unreliable power supply is driving away investors, directly hindering local economic growth.
Failed Promises
Amos Okot (Agago North) questioned why his district remains unpowered while neighbouring regions have electricity, while Kayemba Ssolo (Bukomansimbi South) lamented that his parish has never received a single electricity pole under the current government.
These testimonies painted a grim picture of a national electrification effort marred with mismanagement, delays, and a lack of transparency, leaving millions of Ugandans in the dark.
UECDL’s Digital Shift and Unresolved Questions
MP Charles Tebandeke (Baale County) brought to light another critical issue: the fate of connection applications that were cancelled following UEDCL’s takeover from Umeme.
He demanded answers on whether affected applicants would be refunded or reconnected, and what measures the Ministry is taking to ensure transparency.
In response, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja clarified that UEDCL has now upgraded to a digital application system, where customers can apply online and receive transparent updates via SMS.
She assured Parliament that applicants who met regulatory requirements under Umeme would have their connections processed without additional inspection fees.
Despite these assurances, however, the issues raised by the MPs underscore deep-seated challenges in Uganda’s journey towards universal electricity access.
While the government aims to streamline the connection process, the allegations of illegal charges and the reality of stalled projects cast a long shadow.
The public and Parliament are now demanding accountability and swift action to ensure equitable access to power, holding both UEDCL and the Ministry of Energy to their commitment to electrify the country and deliver on the promise of national development.