FDC challenges govt to fast-track rural electrification
Centenary, said the government's first responsibility is to its own citizens.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) deputy president for Western Uganda, Robert Centenary. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)
________________
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has called on the Government to prioritise rural electrification over exporting electricity, saying it is unacceptable for millions of Ugandans to remain without power while the Government celebrates exporting electricity to neighbouring countries.
Addressing a press conference at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala, on Monday, November 2, 2026, the party's Deputy President for Western Region, Robert Franco Centenary, said the government's first responsibility is to its own citizens.
“We are concerned about the Government's continued emphasis on exporting electricity to neighbouring countries while millions of Ugandans remain without access to reliable and affordable electricity. We believe that the first responsibility of any government is to provide social services to its own citizens before celebrating the provision of those services to neighbouring countries,” Centenary said.
He cited World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) data based on international trade statistics, which shows that Uganda exported electricity worth $60.47m in 2025, equivalent to 618.3 million kilowatt-hours.
According to the data presented by FDC, the export destinations included Kenya at $25.10m (over sh106b), Rwanda at $17.82m (over sh76.23b), Tanzania at $17.21m (over sh73.6b) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at $342,680 (over sh1.46b).
Centenary further noted that on June 27, 2023, Uganda and South Sudan signed a Power Sales Agreement to facilitate electricity trade between the two countries. The agreement prioritised a 308-kilometre, 400kV Olwiyo-Juba transmission line, with 138 kilometres on the Ugandan side and 170 kilometres in South Sudan.
Centenary said the electricity access challenge is a longstanding failure that successive National Resistance Movement (NRM) governments have repeatedly promised to address in their election manifestos three decades ago.
“In its 2016-2021 Manifesto, the NRM made several commitments to expand electricity generation, transmission and distribution across the country, including expanding generation through planned hydropower and other energy projects, expanding the national transmission grid and promoting alternative energy sources, including nuclear energy. How far is the nuclear power development in Nakasongola, how much has been spent on this project. We need accountability as Ugandans,” he demanded.
In the 2021-2026 Manifesto, Centenary said the Government made even more specific pledges on rural electrification.
“These included providing approximately sh45b to extend electricity to Buvuma and Sigulu islands, constructing more than 4,000 kilometres of medium-voltage networks and 6,000 kilometres of low-voltage networks under the Accelerated Rural Electrification Programme, connecting 620 previously unserved sub-county headquarters comprising 558 sub-county headquarters, which has stalled,” he emphasised.
According to Centenary, the manifestos are not merely campaign documents; they are commitments made to the people of Uganda. He, therefore, said the Government must be held accountable for their implementation.
The FDC deputy president cited the Uganda Bureau of Statistics' 2026 presentation of the Uganda Harmonised Integrated Survey covering 2021/22 to 2024/25, which shows that only 29.5% of Ugandan households were using grid electricity for lighting in 2024/25.
“Even those who have power spend almost half of the months without power. Where is the problem? Electricity is not a luxury. It is an essential service that directly affects people's ability to earn a living, access healthcare, educate their children and operate businesses,” Centenary noted.
FDC demanded a comprehensive nationwide electricity connection programme targeting every underserved village, parish, sub-county and trading centre; priority connections for rural health facilities, schools, markets, industrial parks and agricultural production centres.
“We demand a special accelerated electrification programme for West Nile, Buvuma Island, Obongi district, and Karamoja sub-region and other underserved communities. We believe that electricity must be treated as a fundamental driver of economic transformation, not merely as a commodity for regional trade,” he explained.
Govt responds
Abdon Atwine, the Commissioner Rural Electrification in the Ministry of Energy, said that under the new electricity distribution master plan, the Ministry of Energy aims at separating power supply planning for industrial and residential users while ensuring that key social services are located within five kilometres of the national grid.
“Extending electricity needs a harmonised programme strategy together with other stakeholders in the sector. We have seen some people construct industries outside the gazetted industrial parks, especially schools and hospitals. Sometimes this stretches the Government resources, which takes some time to have all the customers supplied,” he said.
The Government has made significant progress in expanding electricity access across the country, with coverage now exceeding 90% in many areas. However, growing demand from industries sharing the same network as households has contributed to power shortages, particularly for domestic consumers.