Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has acted at the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), dismissing senior officers and ordering a management review following a nationwide power blackout.
In a notice dated May 2, 2026, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development said the government had carried out a governance review of the management and board oversight at the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited following recent disruptions in electricity supply.
As part of the actions taken, the Chairperson of the UEDCL Board was dismissed, and the Managing Director was placed on forced leave to allow for a full review of the company’s governance structures and day‑to‑day operations.
“In this regard, the services of the Chairperson of the Board have been terminated, and the Managing Director has been placed on forced leave to allow for a comprehensive review of the Company’s governance and management,” read the notice.
UEDCL Acquires New Interim Board to Ensure Continuity of Operations
To ensure continuity of operations and stability in service delivery, the Ministry said shareholders had appointed Stella Marie Biwaga Cingtho as the Interim Board Chairperson.
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The appointment is meant to provide leadership and proper oversight at the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited during the transition period, while governance and management structures are being reviewed.
The board has also appointed an Acting Managing Director to oversee the utility during this transition period.
The Ministry noted that these interim arrangements will remain in effect until the vacant positions are substantively filled.
The Ministry said the changes were routine governance and oversight processes aimed at strengthening institutional performance, accountability, and service delivery within the energy sector.
“The public and all stakeholders are hereby assured that electricity supply and distribution services will continue uninterrupted during this period,” the statement added.
Uganda Nationwide Power Outrage Trigger Public Frustrations
On April 12, Uganda experienced a nationwide power outage after a technical problem occurred at the Lugogo Substation on the electricity transmission network.
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The fault caused automatic safety systems to shut down parts of the network, which affected the entire national grid. Both the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) worked to restore the electricity supply.
However, the outage led to public frustration and raised concerns about the reliability of the power system.
UEDCL is a fully state-owned public company that was established in 2001 following the unbundling of the former Uganda Electricity Board (UEB).
The company owns the national electricity distribution network up to the 33kV level. For 20 years, from 2005 to 2025, UEDCL leased the operation of this network to a private company, Umeme Ltd, under a concession agreement.
In March and April 2025, UEDCL resumed direct control of electricity distribution, bringing the concession to an end and moving to a government-run system.
Since taking over operations, UEDCL has faced several challenges. One of these is an increase in energy losses, which have reportedly risen to about 19 percent, compared to around 15 percent under Umeme.
These losses have been linked to aging infrastructure, equipment vandalism, and a 28.5 percent increase in electricity demand.
Together, these challenges have put pressure on the company’s ability to operate effectively as it works to expand access to electricity and improve service delivery across the country.
