By Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako
A Season of Reflection and Renewed Commitment: As we celebrate the joy of Christmas and look forward to the New Year, I extend warm greetings to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, the Honourable Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, and all Ugandans, including our electricity consumers, partners, and friends, and reaffirm our shared commitment to national progress.
This season presents an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made as a sector in powering our homes, businesses, and communities, while reaffirming our shared commitment to making electricity more reliable, affordable, and sustainable for all. We are acutely aware that many households, businesses, and institutions have experienced power interruptions during the year, and we recognise the inconvenience and economic strain this has caused.
Enhanced Affordability and Consumer-Centred Tariffs
In 2025, ERA delivered tangible gains in electricity affordability. The weighted Average End-User Tariff declined from UGX 459.8 per kWh in the first quarter to UGX 395.8 per kWh by year-end. This achievement was driven by lower system costs, favourable macroeconomic conditions, increased dispatch from the Karuma Hydropower Project, and revised investment parameters for UEDCL.
The Authority maintained key pro-consumer measures, including the Lifeline Tariff of UGX 250 per unit for the first 15 units of any initial purchase in a month, the Domestic Cooking Tariff of UGX 412 per unit, and the declining block tariff, alongside consumer re-categorisation initiatives. This re-categorisation introduced a special tariff category for public amenities, providing a lower tariff of UGX 360 per unit of electricity for essential public facilities, including health centres and referral hospitals, both public and private, as well as street lighting, to enhance service delivery.
Additionally, industrial consumers were reclassified based on the nature of their activities, distinguishing between manufacturing and non-manufacturing operations. This resulted in the creation of new categories for medium, large, and extra-large industrial customers engaged in value-added manufacturing, as well as large and extra-large service customers involved in activities such as services and trading.
Furthermore, an institutional cooking tariff of UGX 360 was introduced to support large institutions transitioning to clean cooking solutions. Collectively, these interventions ease household energy costs, promote productive electricity use, strengthen industrial competitiveness, and stimulate economic growth.
While lower tariffs have eased the cost of electricity for many consumers, we recognise that affordability alone is not sufficient without a reliable supply. Addressing reliability challenges, therefore, remains a central focus of our regulatory efforts.
Sector Transition and Strengthened Regulatory Oversight
Beyond tariff reform, 2025 marked a historic turning point for Uganda’s electricity distribution sub-sector with the successful conclusion of Umeme Limited’s concession and the transition of operations to UEDCL. ERA played a central role in guiding this transition through comprehensive asset verification, regulatory compliance assessments, and close coordination with Government and sector agencies to ensure transparency, service continuity, and protection of the public interest.
We acknowledge the challenges that accompanied this transition, particularly those affecting power supply and network performance. We have listened carefully to consumers who experienced prolonged outages, voltage fluctuations, and delayed restoration during this period. These concerns are well noted and taken seriously.
In response, ERA has intensified regulatory oversight, directed corrective measures, and approved targeted investments to stabilise and strengthen network reliability. I wish to assure the public that ERA remains fully engaged and firmly focused on ensuring improved service delivery. Restoring a stable, consistent, and reliable electricity supply day and night, for households and businesses alike, remains our top priority.
Growth in System Capacity and Diversification of the Energy Mix
Uganda’s electricity infrastructure continued to expand steadily in 2025. Installed generation capacity grew to 2,098 MW, supported by 5,383 km of transmission lines and nearly 80,000 km of distribution infrastructure. Grid connections increased to 2.52 million customers, reflecting strong progress toward national electrification targets.
Beyond the numbers, these investments are designed to reduce outages, improve voltage stability, and support the growing electricity needs of households, industries, and public institutions.
The sector’s resilience and growth are reinforced by a robust pipeline of generation projects under ERA’s regulatory oversight. Twenty-eight projects are currently at the feasibility stage, while thirty-one licensed projects with a combined capacity of 324.6 MW are under development across hydropower, solar, biomass, cogeneration, wind, and gas-to-power technologies. Approximately 65 MW is expected to be connected to the national grid by the end of 2026.
In line with the Government’s objective to diversify the energy mix and enhance energy security and system resilience, efforts have been intensified to harness geothermal energy, nuclear energy, and biomass projects, as well as promote municipal waste-to-energy solutions. In response, the Electricity Regulatory Authority licensed biomass projects and has strengthened its internal capacity through targeted training and strategic collaboration with relevant agencies, particularly in preparation for nuclear energy licensing. As enshrined in the National Energy Policy 2023, Uganda aims to develop 24,000 MW of nuclear power by 2040, while its geothermal potential is estimated at 1,500 MW. These initiatives collectively support a more resilient, secure, and diversified energy system.
Strengthening Regional Presence and Stakeholder Engagement
ERA deepened its national footprint in 2025 with the opening of the Mbarara Regional Office, bringing the total number of regional offices to three. This expansion enhances proximity to consumers, improves compliance monitoring, strengthens consumer protection, and accelerates responses to regulatory and service-related issues at the local level.
ERA also elevated Uganda’s leadership on the continental energy stage by hosting the inaugural Africa Electricity Symposium (AES), convening regulators, policymakers, industry leaders, and development partners from across Africa. Alongside this, the Authority launched the Youth Energy Summit (YES!), empowering young professionals to shape Africa’s electricity future.
Regional Power Trade and Integration
At the regional level, Uganda made significant progress in advancing power trade and integration. In April 2025, the Council of Ministers of the Eastern African Power Pool (EAPP) approved Market Rules governing commercial electricity trading, paving the way for a regional power market. The Independent Regulatory Board (IRB) is now developing harmonised regulatory frameworks and monitoring and market surveillance tools to ensure transparency and accountability. The same April 2025 session of the Council of Ministers inaugurated the Secretariat of the Independent Regulatory Board in Kampala.
Managing Losses and Improving Efficiency
Improving system efficiency remains a key regulatory priority. Distribution losses currently stand at 17.1%, while transmission losses are at 4%. ERA continues to work closely with licensees to address these inefficiencies through targeted investments, enhanced compliance monitoring, and operational reforms that protect consumer value.
Electricity Access and Ensuring Safety
Following the amendment of the Electricity Act in 2022, ERA licensed three companies to undertake key transmission infrastructure projects, including substation upgrades and construction of transmission lines in strategic energy corridors such as the Kingfisher and Tilenga Oil Fields.
ERA has also closely monitored the Electricity Scale-Up Project, which aims to establish 300,000 new connections annually. In parallel, electrical safety and professionalism remain central to our mandate. As of 2025, Uganda had 4,798 certified electricians (electrical technicians) who handle safe electrical work in homes, institutions, and industries, ensuring the safe use of electricity. The full list is available on ERA’s website.
Strategic Direction and Future Ambition
In 2025, ERA launched its Strategic Plan (2025–2030), aligning its priorities with NDP III and Vision 2040. The Authority remains committed to scaling generation capacity, achieving competitive industrial tariffs, and accelerating universal electricity access as a driver of socio-economic transformation.
Reconstitution of the ERA Board
In accordance with the Electricity Act, the Minister of Energy reconstituted the ERA Board in October 2025 and appointed a new Chairperson, Eng. Grania Rosette Rubomboras, alongside new and returning members, who will provide strategic oversight and direction.
Protecting Consumers and Infrastructure
ERA remains unwavering in its commitment to consumer protection through its complaints-handling framework. At the same time, vandalism of electricity infrastructure continues to undermine reliability and safety. Every act of vandalism ultimately affects a neighbour, a school, a hospital, or a business.
In 2025, ERA supported investigations leading to 16 concluded cases and 11 convictions. As we approach the festive season, I call upon all Ugandans to remain vigilant and protect electricity installations that power our lives and livelihoods.
Looking Ahead with Optimism
As we look to the year ahead, ERA will remain firmly focused on improving efficiency across the Electricity Supply Industry through targeted investments along the entire value chain, strengthening reliability and quality of service, and advancing the energy transition to secure a sustainable electricity sector for Uganda.
On behalf of the Electricity Regulatory Authority, I wish all our stakeholders a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year filled with light, hope, and opportunity. The writer of this is this ENG. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, the Chief Executive Officer for Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA). (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
