Musenero unveils three-point agenda for energy ministry

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Energy and Mineral Development minister-designate Dr Monica Musenero has pledged to prioritise electricity access, address delays in oil production and streamline regulation in the minerals sector as she prepares to take up office.

Musenero appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on June 1, 2026. She later told the media at Parliament that the ministry’s mandate can be grouped into three key areas: electricity and energy access, oil development, and mineral management.

“Electricity is not a luxury. Unstable power supply is affecting industries and livelihoods,” she said, adding that many Ugandans still lack reliable access despite increased generation capacity.

She noted that while Uganda produces significant amounts of electricity, distribution challenges persist.

“We are producing a lot of power, and most of it is not being consumed. That paradox has to be addressed,” she said.

Musenero highlighted delays in oil development and pledged to assess the bottlenecks early in her tenure.

“The oil concerns I have seen are about delays. I will look into why we are delayed in the first 10 days in office so I understand where the issue is,” she said.

On minerals, she pointed to informality and weak regulation as key challenges, noting the need to streamline artisanal mining and improve oversight.

She added that she plans to present a detailed sector plan within two weeks of taking office.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda’s electricity access stands at about 57% to 60%, with only about 38% of the population connected to the national grid despite installed generation capacity exceeding 2,000MW. Biomass still accounts for about 94% of total energy consumption, largely from firewood and charcoal, underscoring continued reliance on traditional fuels.