By Musa Mbogo
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has bid farewell to its long-serving Board Chairperson, Dr. Sarah Wasagali Kanaabi, whose tenure has spanned over a decade of remarkable transformation in Uganda’s Energy sector.
The colorful farewell ceremony, held at ERA offices in Kampala under the theme “A Legacy of Leadership: Celebrating a Decade of Vision, Integrity and Impact,” attracted key players from the electricity fraternity, religious leaders, family members, and friends, marking the end of Wasagali’s service at ERA and the beginning of her journey into elective politics.
Wasagali officially tendered her resignation in order to prepare for a new role, representing Mbale City as Woman Member of Parliament in the 2026 general elections. She confirmed she will be running on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.
She explained that her decision to leave ERA at this time was motivated by a need to focus fully on mobilizing and engaging communities in Mbale.
Having observed a leadership vacuum in the area, she believes her experience in governance and service delivery can help address the development needs of the region, promising to offer clean and accountable leadership, driven by the interests of the people.
Her journey with ERA began in 2013 when she joined the institution as a board member, later appointed by government to chair the board, a position she held for two five-year terms.
During her time at the helm, the Authority registered significant strides in electricity regulation, infrastructure development, and access to power across the country.
She recounted several sector achievements during her tenure, where the number of electricity customers grew to 3.4 million, the country’s power generation capacity was boosted, and the transmission and distribution networks were expanded.
Wasagali also pointed to the downward trend in industrial power tariffs, with large manufacturers now paying as low as five cents per kilowatt hour.
The Authority’s reputation also rose across the continent, with ERA was ranked the best electricity regulatory agency in Africa for five consecutive years, a feat Wasagali said was the result of teamwork between her board and technical staff.
She also highlighted ERA’s contributions to Uganda’s broader development agenda, including its alignment with Vision 2040, the National Development Plan (NDP) III, and key commitments in the NRM manifesto.
Under her leadership, the Authority opened three regional offices and expanded staffing from 50% to 98% to match its growing regulatory mandate, overseeing over 60 licensees in the electricity value chain.
However, she did not shy away from acknowledging challenges, saying that as UMEME’s concession came to an end, the transition of service provision to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) presented reliability concerns, which she attributed to reduced investment by UMEME in its final phase.
She also decried the rising cases of vandalism of electricity infrastructure, calling on Ugandans to be patriotic and protect public assets, regardless of political affiliation.
“The electricity infrastructure belongs to Uganda. It’s not for NRM, nor for President Museveni. It is the engine of our country’s economic growth,” she said.
Several speakers paid tribute to Wasagali’s leadership, with Ziria Tibalwa Waako, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ERA, praising her for fostering a performance-oriented culture at the Authority and guiding the institution through critical reforms.
“You were on the board that interviewed me and entrusted me with this role,” Tibalwa noted, adding that Wasagali’s leadership championed excellence and discipline. “Performance does not happen by accident. You made it a culture here,” Tibalwa said.
Family and religious leaders also commended her. Nambuya Mebra, Wasgali’s mother, expressed gratitude for the opportunity her daughter had to serve the nation and thanked the ERA board for the support they extended to her throughout her tenure.
Representing the Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, the Deputy Secretary General of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, Muhammad Ali Aluma, lauded Kanaabi’s role in breaking barriers for Muslim women in leadership.
He noted that for many years, Muslim women were only associated with domestic roles, but figures like Kanaabi had changed that perception by rising to serve at high levels in public institutions, describing her as a role model and a source of pride for the Muslim community.
As the curtain falls on her time at ERA, Kanaabi walks away with her legacy intact, as a reformer, a leader, and a woman who guided one of Uganda’s most vital sectors through a decade of significant change.
Her next mission, she says, is to bring the same energy and commitment to the people of Mbale City.
Whether the voters of Mbale will reward her track record with a parliamentary seat remains to be seen, but for now, ERA and the electricity sector bid her farewell with admiration and best wishes for the road ahead. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
