By Mulengera Reporters
Despite Uganda’s commendable strides in electricity generation, with capacity reaching 2,005 MW during the 2023/2024 financial year, the latest Auditor General’s report highlights critical gaps in electricity access, leaving millions of Ugandans in the dark.
This impressive capacity growth, primarily attributed to the operationalization of the 600 MW Karuma Hydro Power Plant, has done little to address the country’s longstanding inequities in energy distribution.
Only 57% of Ugandans currently have access to electricity, with rural areas, where over 75% of the population resides, recording a mere 36% access rate. The stark rural-urban disparity underscores systemic challenges in extending the national grid to underserved communities, where electricity could transform lives.
A particularly troubling revelation from the report is the underutilization of Uganda’s energy resources. Although the country boasts a generation capacity of 2,005 MW, peak demand in 2023/2024 reached only 1,025 MW, leaving an excess of 979 MW untapped. This mismatch is attributed to the lack of adequate grid infrastructure, which limits connectivity to remote areas, and the low industrial uptake, despite government efforts to promote industrialization.
High connection fees and energy tariffs also discourage households from accessing electricity, even in areas where the grid is available, further compounding the issue.
The report raises serious concerns about Uganda’s ability to meet its ambitious Vision 2040 targets of achieving 60% electricity access by 2027 and 80% by 2030. Achieving these milestones is crucial for Uganda’s transformation into a modern and industrialized economy.
However, this will require urgent investments in grid expansion to reach underserved areas, especially in rural Uganda, and significant upgrades to the existing distribution infrastructure to ensure reliability and support higher demand.
Additionally, there is a pressing need to scale up off-grid solutions such as mini-grids and solar home systems to provide affordable and sustainable energy to isolated communities. Connecting industrial hubs to reliable electricity supplies must also be prioritized to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.
Beyond the statistics, the lack of electricity access deprives families of opportunities to improve education, healthcare, and economic activities. Addressing these gaps is not merely a technical matter but a fundamental issue of national development.
The government, in collaboration with development partners and private sector stakeholders, must act decisively to ensure Uganda’s growing energy capacity translates into tangible benefits for its people. By lighting up homes, powering industries, and bridging the urban-rural divide, Uganda can harness its energy potential as a cornerstone for prosperity, paving the way to fulfill the Vision 2040 promise. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
