As the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) marks 100 days since taking over the country’s electricity distribution from Umeme Ltd on April 1, 2025, the milestone has drawn mixed reactions from the public, with celebrations at the top and criticism from the grassroots.
While the company and government officials highlighted progress and future plans at a press briefing held at the Uganda Media Centre, many Ugandans voiced frustration over persistent power outages, frequent load shedding, and rising electricity bills.
Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) lit up with feedback, ranging from cautious optimism to outright discontent.
“100 days of more load shedding, especially in my hometown Kasangati,” wrote @KwsiAlex. “A pole fell, and instead of replacing it, they overloaded the line. No stable power. 100 days worse.”
Another user, @jbariyo, demanded a refund for service charges, writing:
“How can our place stay without power for two nights?”
Even users who acknowledged some improvements had concerns.
“We now have more stable electricity, no loose links lately,” said @DrKasumbaUmar. “But my monthly bill has shot up. Something’s wrong.”
“Your service is off and on — unstable,” wrote @DanielCloud24. “Don’t even celebrate. Just fix the mess.”
Amid the criticism, Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa commended UEDCL’s financial discipline, highlighting that the utility had paid 100% of its obligations to the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), a feat she said was vital for the sector’s financial sustainability.
She also praised the company’s efforts to maintain stable vending and billing systems, ensuring consumers could continue purchasing electricity tokens without interruption.
However, Nankabirwa did not shy away from calling out worsening electricity theft and vandalism, urging law enforcement and local leaders to intervene decisively.
“I am not happy with top government officials who remain silent while power theft is rising across the country,” she said, citing Nakasongola, Luwero, Wabigalo, the Elgon region, and Mbarara as hotspots.
The UEDCL Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa pointed to several achievements under what has been dubbed the “Big Switch.
These include: the opening of 100 customer service centers nationwide, staffing levels reaching 96%, with 2,601 employees and plans to hire 400 more, and an aggressive push to clear 127,000 pending electricity connections.
He outlined four core operational pillars: talent management, financial sustainability, customer satisfaction, and network availability.
Mwesigwa also reported progress in combating vandalism and power theft.
“We’ve arrested 41 suspects, and 17 are already before court,” he revealed, attributing the success to joint operations with security agencies.
He called for national cooperation to protect electricity infrastructure.
“This is not just a UEDCL fight, it’s a fight for Uganda’s economic future,” he said.
Despite the milestones, many Ugandans remain unconvinced, pointing to daily blackouts and rising bills as signs of deeper issues.
For UEDCL, the next 100 days may be just as critical, not for celebrating, but for convincing the public that reliable, affordable electricity is within reach.
