We are committed to increasing power - UEGCL

May 31, 2017

Power generation supplement

By Benon Ojiambo

For Uganda to improve and strengthen her level of competitiveness on the global market, investment in infrastructure, especially in the energy sector, is crucial.

The energy sector has been labelled a major driver of industrialisation across the world. Industrialisation is also tipped to lead Uganda into the promised middle-income status by 2020.

In the 2016-2021 manifesto, the Government promised to lay emphasis on power generation, and construction of new transmission lines and sub-stations.

According to the manifesto, Uganda's power generation is envisaged to increase upon completion of the Karuma and Isimba hydropower plants, construction of additional hydropower and geo-thermal stations.

This was meant to boost power output to at least 3,668KW by 2018, to boost industrial growth, support domestic consumption and ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy.

The Government, in the 2016/17 budget speech, promised to increase the availability of reliable and affordable electricity for both domestic and industrial use in order to double access to 40% by 2040.

Uganda's current power generation capacity is estimated at 873MW. According to the 2014 National Population Census, access to electricity among households stands at 20.4%.

On the other hand, per capita consumption is at a paltry 80 kilowatt-hours, as of 2013.

According to Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), to attain middleincome status by 2020, the second National Development Plan (NDP II) set targets for electricity access at 30% and average consumption at 578KW per capita. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON THIS STORY 

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Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL)

 

 

 

 

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