Uganda stands at the threshold of a renewable energy revolution, but is not walking this journey alone. Through the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, billions of euros are being mobilized and injected to drive a just, clean, and inclusive energy transition across the country.
At the heart of this transformation lies a shared vision: universal access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy by 2030.
The EU Ambassador to Uganda, Jan Sadek, describes it as “a partnership built on fairness, innovation, and opportunity.”
Already, Team Europe’s collective action has enabled more than 1.5 million Ugandans to gain access to electricity, with millions more expected to follow. Projects such as the Last Mile Electrification Programme are expanding rural networks, connecting schools, health centres, and small businesses across more than a dozen districts.
At the same time, innovative initiatives like Pro Mini Grids and GET Access Uganda are illuminating remote communities through solar-powered microgrids, bringing light to villages, refugee settlements, and island communities for the very first time.
Tackling clean cooking
One of Uganda’s toughest energy challenges remains its heavy dependence on firewood and charcoal, a practice that has over the years accelerated deforestation and exposing many households to severe health risks.
The 2024 National Population and Housing Census reported that 65% of households used firewood, while 48.6% used charcoal.
Experts from the Uganda National Alliance for Clean Cooking (UNACC) have overtime raised concerns about the lack of awareness among Ugandans regarding alternatives to charcoal and firewood.
The group also notes that while about 70% of urban residents have access to electricity, only a small fraction uses it for cooking due to limited awareness of these technologies.
However, Team Europe is confronting this head-on through the Forest Partnership and Clean Cooking programmes, which are now empowering more than 100,000 Ugandans to adopt cleaner energy alternatives while restoring forests and creating green jobs.
In a recent partnership meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala, the EU announced a €48 million commitment to strengthen forestry management and conservation efforts.
The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, was attended by senior government officials including Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka, Trade Minister Francis Mwebesa, Minister for Karamoja Affairs Peter Lokeris, and State Minister for Energy Okasai Opolot.
Ambassador Sadek expressed appreciation for Uganda’s political will and long-standing collaboration with the EU in the forestry sector.
“The EU has committed €40 million to the partnership, with an additional €8 million euros from Denmark,” he said, emphasizing that forest preservation remains a critical pillar of global climate change mitigation.
Sadek praised Uganda’s efforts in forest management and reaffirmed the EU’s readiness to continue supporting sustainable forestry practices.
His remarks come in the wake of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s 2023 executive order banning charcoal burning and illegal timber production, a decisive step in the fight against deforestation.
The Prime Minister lauded the EU’s partnership as vital not only for the sustainability of Uganda’s forests but also for driving economic transformation.
“The EU, through its ongoing support and collaborative efforts, has made a significant contribution, as a strategic partner, to shaping the future of Uganda’s forestry sector, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the coming years,” she said.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the ban on non-value-added forest products, urging both technical and political committees, as well as law enforcement agencies, to remain vigilant.
By prioritizing sustainable forest management and value-added production, Nabbanja said, Uganda could both improve livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to global climate change mitigation.
The Uganda, EU Forest Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was first signed on November 8, 2022, at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and reinforced through a Roadmap signed on June 29, 2023.
Under this agreement, Uganda committed to improving governance and promoting the sustainable use of its forest resources.
The €40 million grant supports forest restoration, anti-trafficking initiatives, and the development of sustainable timber and non-timber value chains, all key to addressing deforestation, forest degradation, and strengthening forest governance.
Through EU-backed efforts and technical support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Uganda has already made progress in combating forest crimes and improving governance structures.
However, as officials note, continued vigilance from both technical and political teams remains essential to stay on track with these ambitious goals.
Building a Regional Powerhouse
Beyond its borders, Uganda is also emerging as a regional energy hub, thanks to EU-supported interconnection projects linking the country with Kenya, Tanzania, and South Sudan.
These initiatives enhance energy security and open the door for power trade across Eastern and Southern Africa, strengthening regional integration and resilience.
The EU and its member states, including Germany, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands, have collectively committed €200 million in grants, with billions more in leveraged investments across Uganda’s energy sector.
From off-grid solar systems for homes and farms to large-scale hydropower rehabilitation, this partnership is not only building infrastructure but also powering livelihoods, innovation, and opportunity.
As Ambassador Sadek reflects, “Together, Uganda and Europe are powering a greener, fairer future, one that leaves no one behind.”
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Union. Responsibility for the content lies solely with the author(s) and the publishing platform.
