Stakeholders Assess UEDCL Progress as ERA Convenes 2026 Tariff Hearings

By Mulengera Reporters

On Tuesday, December 9th, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) convened the 2026 tariff public hearing at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala, bringing together electricity stakeholders, consumers, and technical teams to review Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited’s (UEDCL) performance and plans for the coming year.

The session, held as part of ERA’s annual tariff-setting process, provided UEDCL an opportunity to explain the progress it has made since assuming full responsibility for electricity distribution on April 1, 2025, and to outline the steps being taken to strengthen the network after the end of the Umeme concession.

ERA Chief Executive Officer Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako noted that the hearing was an important accountability platform where the utility could update the public on operational adjustments, ongoing investments, and procurement processes that support service stability.

She emphasized that the transition from a privately run concession to a public distribution utility involves procurement timelines and structural changes that naturally take time to stabilize, but said the authority has continued to guide UEDCL through these early months of system realignment.

“This is a work in progress, UEDCL has spent the past 7 months reorganizing staffing, harmonising procedures, and undertaking the procurement of essential materials for network maintenance and upgrades,” Waako Said.

During the engagement, UEDCL Managing Director (MD) Paul Mwesigwa presented the company’s progress report, explaining that a number of key investments (particularly in network rehabilitation and new connections) were still in the procurement and implementation pipeline.

He said the company is working within the government’s public procurement framework, which has longer lead times compared to the private systems previously used under Umeme.

“Between the time you order and the time you receive stock, it takes several months because of manufacturing and shipping schedules,” Mwesigwa noted, adding that most of UEDCL’s projects are now lined up, and implementation is ongoing.

UEDCL also gave updates on customer connections, ongoing system upgrades, and initiatives aimed at improving service reliability in different regions of the country. The company reported a total of 172,000 new connections as of Monday and said efforts are underway to accelerate the rollout of planned projects.

Consumer representatives, industry players, and civil society organizations in attendance were given space to respond to UEDCL’s presentation and raise issues for clarification, particularly around network expansions, rural electrification targets, and service restoration timelines.

ERA officials committed to reviewing all submissions before finalizing the 2026 tariff structure.

The public hearing is part of ERA’s annual process to ensure transparency, public participation, and evidence-based decision-making in tariff setting and sector planning.

ERA is expected to issue its final position after analyzing the technical data, written submissions, and feedback received during the deliberations at Imperial Royale.