As Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) marks its first 100 days at the helm of the country’s electricity distribution, the milestone is accompanied by a serious warning, vandalism and power theft are threatening to undermine the hard-earned progress achieved so far.
Energy and Mineral Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa didn’t hold back during a press briefing to mark the occasion.
While commending UEDCL’s strides in cost reduction and service delivery, she spotlighted a growing crisis widespread electricity vandalism and theft, which she said continues to undermine national progress.
“There are people stealing power in broad daylight, and others damaging transformers and power lines. These acts are not just wrong—they are criminal,” she warned.
“We recently arrested 17 suspects and charged them with terrorism. We shall not tolerate vandalism.”
Nankabirwa also challenged local government officials, particularly Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), to be more vigilant and proactive.
“Where are the RDCs when all this is happening? How can people tap power and no one notices? Government cannot succeed alone. We need everyone to be patriotic and help protect this infrastructure.”
UEDCL’s Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa echoed the Minister’s concerns, describing vandalism as one of the biggest obstacles to sustaining the power sector’s momentum. This, despite the company’s remarkable achievements in its first 100 days since taking over from Umeme.
Among the biggest wins is a steady reduction in electricity costs, a move Mwesigwa said is already putting money back in consumers’ pockets.
“Electricity costs have steadily declined. The most recent 14% reduction translates into about 250 billion shillings saved for consumers,” he announced. “We’ve now achieved our target of five US cents per kilowatt-hour for extra-large industries, and we are committed to further lowering power costs for everyone.”
Despite the setbacks, UEDCL’s transition has been broadly positive. Mwesigwa noted that the company entered operations with four key priorities talent management, financial sustainability, customer service excellence, and network availability and has made solid progress on all fronts.
“This journey started with four key priorities. I am proud to say we have made good progress on all fronts,” he said.
Service delivery has also seen improvement, with energy purchases rising by 6% and consumer engagement on the rise. However, Mwesigwa acknowledged that without addressing vandalism, these efforts could be derailed.
Adding to the pressure, transformer overloads have begun to emerge in high-demand areas like Mukono, exposing weaknesses in the current distribution network.
The surge in demand, while a sign of economic activity, puts extra strain on aging equipment much of which is vulnerable to theft and damage.
To tackle this, UEDCL is finalizing a $350 million investment plan aimed at expanding and upgrading the power distribution network over the next five years.
“We didn’t shut down the old Umeme centers. We just rebranded them for business continuity. Our focus is on service, not disruption,” said Mwesigwa.
UEDCL has already recruited over 2,600 employees—96% of its staffing target—and installed 518 new transformers and 24,000 meters since the takeover.
Customers without meters will soon receive replacements free of charge, as part of a nationwide campaign to ensure accurate billing and prevent illegal connections.
“We are also preparing to launch a campaign to allow people to report if they don’t have an official meter. Anyone missing one will get it free of charge,” Mwesigwa said.
The company has prioritized connections to district headquarters first, with plans to gradually expand access to sub-counties and remote communities.
“We receive calls daily from people requesting electricity connections. We are moving toward them step by step,” Nankabirwa assured.
Both leaders remain optimistic about the future, but they emphasized the need for collective action to safeguard progress.
“I am proud of what we’ve achieved so far and hopeful that we will continue on this positive path,” said Nankabirwa.
“We’re here to serve Ugandans better,” added Mwesigwa. “And we’re just getting started.”
As UEDCL’s new era unfolds, the fight against vandalism could determine just how far and how fast the country moves toward reliable, affordable electricity for all.
