One million Ugandan households to get free electricity connections

The minister for Energy Ruth Nankabirwa, has said at least one million poor households across the country, will get free electricity connections starting early next year.

Officiating at the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL)’s annual general meeting, Ms Nankabirwa said government will kick off the World Bank-funded $638 million Energy Access Scale-up Project (EASP), under which power will be made available to the poor.

Minister Nankabirwa said people who live near electric poles but are finding it difficult to raise about Shs700,000 to get power into their houses, shall be helped to get connected.

“We shall help those who live near electric poles but are finding it difficult to raise about Shs700,000 to get power into their houses. There are those who cannot pay for wiring their houses so we have created red boxes which we will install in a strategic corner and give you the …wire which will [carry] power into that box,” she said.

She said the red box will have two switches and two sockets so that the beneficiary can power the house and charge their phones.

“Our major aim is to reduce darkness and that is why we have ensured every region benefits,” she said.

The government launched EASP in early 2022 to increase energy access for households, enterprises, and institutions through grid and off-grid connections.

According to Nankabirwa, her ministry is working towards increasing electricity access from the current 58 percent to 80 percent in 2025, and 100 percent in 2030.

She also revealed that her ministry is working towards increasing electricity access from the current 58 percent to 80 percent in 2025, and 100 percent in 2030.