Many people in Uganda risk being disconnected from the national grid due to the inefficient use of electricity, according to Okaasai Opolot, the state minister for Energy.
Speaking at the opening of the new Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) office at the Lugogo Show Grounds, the minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing reliable electricity, especially to industrial parks, through the establishment of substations.
“We have developed the Energy Efficiency Bill after engaging all key stakeholders, including industrialists. The aim is to ensure they adopt modern, energy efficient technologies. We want this bill to become law so that everyone uses electricity efficiently and gets the best value from it,” Opolot said.
He noted that many industries continue to operate outdated machinery that consumes excessive power.
“If you use old technologies, your production costs increase, making your products less competitive in the market. We must address this.”
He also criticized extravagant household electricity usage noting that many homes, people use electricity inefficiently. They don’t invest in energy-saving appliances or lighting. According to the minister, inefficient use of electricity such as ironing during peak tariff hours will be classified as misuse. He stressed the need to use electricity wisely to support Uganda’s economic growth ambitions.
“We will start monitoring how electricity is used, and there will be penalties for misuse. We want to drive a 10-fold economy using the power we generate. That is only possible if everyone uses electricity efficiently,” he said.
The proposed Energy Efficiency Bill has already been passed by cabinet and will soon be tabled before Parliament. The industrialists will be given one final opportunity to review the bill before it is debated.
“This bill will not only address electricity use but also tackle fuel inefficiency. When I talk about electric vehicles, I mean we must stop using inefficient, fuel-guzzling cars. So, stay warned,” he said. He also urged industrialists to work in collaboration with the government to solve challenges related to energy delivery.
“For instance, if a substation needs to be established in an industrial park, and funds are an issue, industrialists can consider pre-financing such projects. We will work out a way to reimburse them. Delays in power delivery due to financing constraints should not happen.”
Government warned that industrial users operating with archaic technologies could face disconnection, be required to pay cash, or even face imprisonment for electricity misuse. “This isn’t just about industrialists; it’s about all of us. Government will conduct audits in homes and industries to assess electricity use. Significant, unexplained spikes in consumption will be questioned. We want to save people from unnecessary costs.” the minister said.
The government will also appoint regulators to ensure compliance. In industrial parks, self-regulation will be enforced. Factories will monitor and audit their own energy consumption instead of waiting for a government auditor. Sekalala Junior, the chairman of the Uganda Manufacturers Association, applauded UEDCL for opening the new office, saying it will improve connectivity, complaints handling, and conflict resolution.
“Previously, we dealt with individual customer service agents who had to coordinate with multiple regional offices. This centralized office will make things easier,” Sekalala said. On the upcoming Energy Efficiency Bill, Sekalala expressed hope that stakeholders would be consulted before it is presented in Parliament.
“Everyone in the value chain stands to benefit from an efficient energy sector. But the approach must be fair and inclusive.”
“Currently, the biggest users pay a favourable five cents per unit between midnight and morning. But more work is needed to ensure this system benefits all,” he said.
Paul Mwesigwa, the managing director of UEDCL, emphasized the importance of proper planning for industrial electricity connections due to the high energy demands of manufacturers.
“The energy delivered from transmission last month totalled 562 billion kilowatt-hours. Of that, manufacturers consumed 65 per cent. That’s a significant share, and connecting such users requires careful planning to prevent overloads that could affect other services,” he said.
