Dear UEDCL, Ugandans deserve better

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OPINION

By Patrick Gukiina Musoke

Earlier this year, news broke that Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) had replaced Umeme as the primary power distributor in Uganda.

This announcement was met with widespread optimism, and many Ugandans hoped for a new era marked by fewer power outages, more affordable electricity, and improved reliability in responding to power disruptions.

Unfortunately, several months into this transition, it appears these expectations have not been met. Instead, power outages have become an all-too-common experience, especially in places like Entebbe, where nightly blackouts are now the norm. 

UEDCL often cites interruptions on the “main line” as the cause of these outages. But this raises a critical question: which main line requires repairs every two days, sometimes lasting an entire day?

Shockingly, there was a week in Kitubulu, Entebbe, where UEDCL staff carried out repairs for five consecutive days, yet the power disruptions persisted and have continued to persist to date within the same area. This level of inefficiency is baffling. If we are to ask, which power company with supposedly competent engineers would conduct the same repairs repeatedly over a week without resolving the problem?

Nevertheless, the situation in Entebbe reflects a broader issue affecting other parts of Uganda, as the new power distributor seems to be plagued by the same, if not worse, challenges that plagued the previous company, to the extent that many in my community have asserted that Umeme, despite its flaws, was more reliable than UEDCL.

This raises a fundamental question of whether we deserve to move from bad to worse. It is also worth noting that technology, especially in vital sectors, should ideally improve over time, rather than degrade.

To put this in perspective, consider how other government services have evolved. For instance, the process of issuing driving permits in Uganda used to be slow and cumbersome, often taking weeks.

Now permits are issued within minutes. This represents genuine progress, a clear indication that with the right leadership and innovation, public services can improve significantly.

Be that as it may, the incompetence on display by UEDCL is not just a matter of inconvenience; it has serious, sometimes life-threatening implications.

For instance. Hospitals rely on stable electricity to power incubators for premature babies and oxygen machines for patients with respiratory conditions, and power outages surely put these vulnerable lives at risk. Beyond health, businesses suffer enormous losses every time the power goes off. This is not just a technical failure; it’s a humanitarian and economic crisis. Looking beyond Uganda, other countries provide valuable lessons on how to manage electricity distribution effectively.

In Kenya, for example, Kenya Power has invested heavily in modernising infrastructure and customer service, resulting in fewer outages and faster response times.

Rwanda has also adopted smart grids and digital meters that help detect faults quickly and reduce downtime. These examples show that it is entirely possible to improve power distribution, provided there is commitment, accountability, and investment.

It is therefore my well-considered opinion that Uganda cannot afford to continue normalising incompetence in such a critical sector, as stable electricity is foundational to achieving middle-income status.

I, therefore, urge UEDCL to accept positive criticism, act decisively to ensure that those responsible for chronic failures are either retrained, reassigned, or replaced, and that well-qualified and dedicated engineers and technicians are employed to sort out the current crisis in order to rebuild trust with the populace.

In conclusion, UEDCL has an urgent obligation to Ugandans to improve power supply reliability as Uganda’s development largely depends on dependable electricity for health, business, education, and overall quality of life. It is not too late for UEDCL to rise to the challenge and deliver the progress that Ugandans deserve and envision.

The writer is an Advocate of the High Court of Uganda, author, researcher and a ULS Digital Excellence Award Winner 2025.