Govt to connect Buvuma Island to national electricity grid

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It is now a question of when, not if, Buvuma Island will get connected to the national electricity grid.

The Government, in a major step aimed at promoting inclusive energy access and accelerating rural development, says it intends to connect Buvuma through an underwater power distribution system via Lake Victoria — similar to the model used for Kalangala Island.

Energy minister Ruth Nankabirwa announced the plan during a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on July 1, 2025, ahead of the 3rd Power and Electricity Expo scheduled for July 10–12. 

“We expect the same company that helped us with Kalangala to be brought on board for Buvuma,” she said, noting that a formal request has already been submitted to President Yoweri Museveni, and they are awaiting his approval before implementation begins.

Buvuma is one of Uganda’s 84 islands, only seven of which currently have access to electricity, primarily from off-grid renewable sources like solar. The Government’s plan is expected to significantly improve the quality of life on the island and open up new opportunities for investment and enterprise.

Uganda's electricity generation capacity has seen considerable growth in recent years, reaching approximately 2,048.1MW by the second quarter of 2024.

However, transmission and distribution remain a challenge. Despite a national power surplus, many communities, especially in remote areas, still lack reliable access to electricity.

Vandalism challenges

Nankabirwa also addressed ongoing discussions over compensation claims made by Umeme, Uganda’s former electricity distributor, following the end of its concession.

She said the Auditor General is playing a key role in determining any financial obligations the government owes.

“The first audit was tabled in Parliament, and we paid $118m. The second audit relates to ongoing works before the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) fully took over,” she explained.

“We are still in the harmonisation phase. If there is any disagreement on the final figures, arbitration is an option. But the government will only pay what has been confirmed by the Auditor General. This is public money and it must be accounted for.”

Nankabirwa also raised concerns over continued vandalism of electricity infrastructure, which she said is undermining progress under the new electricity management regime led by UEDCL.

“We lose a lot—not just the cost of replacing stolen items, but also valuable time and resources invested in the infrastructure,” she said.

“These acts are criminal and have far-reaching effects, including causing power outages and even loss of life.”

Under recently amended laws, penalties for vandalism have been stiffened.

“If found guilty, perpetrators must face prison time. They must be removed from society because they endanger lives,” she said, urging the public to help identify and report vandals.

Energy for value addition

Nankabirwa said as Uganda rolls out the Parish Development Model (PDM), increased electricity access will be essential to support agro-industrialisation at the grassroots.

“We expect massive production at the parish level, and for that to be commercially viable, we need value addition. That can only happen with access to affordable and reliable energy,” she said.

To meet this demand, the government is scaling up last-mile electricity connections and promoting the use of smart meters.

“UEDCL, the new distributor, is working on expanding the network. Our target is 100% access by 2030. That means we’ll need more meters, wires, transformers — and we are encouraging local manufacturing of these components.”

She added that with the planned revival of Kilembe Mines, the country could see increased domestic production of copper and cobalt — essential raw materials for making electrical equipment such as wires and cables.

Upcoming energy expo

The 3rd Power and Electricity Expo, organised by the energy ministry in partnership with Exhibitions & Trade Services India Pvt. Ltd, will take place at the Uganda Manufacturers Association Multi-Purpose Hall in Lugogo.

Vijayanka Brighuvanshi, the director at the Indian firm, said the event will attract participants from over 40 countries and will showcase innovations in power, energy, lighting, solar, and renewable technologies, tailored to meet the needs of Uganda and the broader East African region.