The electricity network is now in new hands
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd, the country’s new power vendors have promised normalcy during the transition from its predecessor, Umeme.
The 20-year Umeme concession for electricity distribution ended on March 31 2025, leading to a transfer of roles.
In a public advisory, UEDCL assured customers that all electricity services will remain uninterrupted throughout and beyond the transition.
“Electricity vending and loading will continue normally via MTN, Airtel, banks, and other collection platforms,” the company said in a statement, amidst public concern about the risk of disruptions to electricity supply as Uganda transitions from a private distributor to full government control.
The big handover performed by officials at the energy ministry, ERA, Umeme, among other bodies
The firm further said that all electricity units acquired before April 1st 2025 and not used by customers on their meter accounts will remain valid. “Normal electricity vending and loading for all customers will continue on MTN, Airtel, banks and other collection platforms,” it said.
It also advised the public to be cautious during the transition, as unauthorized individuals may act as UEDCL officials , attempting to remove electricity meters from their homes or falsely claiming that their units would stop to function after the transition.
191 workers lose jobs
Habari Daily has also reliably leant that a total of 191 employees obtained termination letters as UEDCL took over from Umeme.
Sources intimated that Government opted not to absorb all the staff, especially since UEDCL already has personnel from the successor company.
When our reporter reached out to Dr Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, confirmed the state of affairs, adding that taking on an excessive number of staff would result in redundancy in some offices, leaving employees without work.
“This would unfortunately increase UEDCL’s operational costs, which would ultimately impact electricity supply,” she noted.
A UEDCL worker on duty
She promised to retain some of them as specialists so that when the need arises, they are called upon to offer services.
“We will be calling upon them to play a consultant’s role when need arises. We will also recommend them to contractors working within the network to give them first priority,” she said.
The UEDCL Managing Director, Paul Mwesigwa
Paul Mwesigwa, the UEDCL Managing Director, said that they recruited 90% of Umeme’s former workforce.
“In total, we picked about 2,200 workers from Umeme. All appointment letters to the new recruits have been dispatched, and we expect them to report for duty immediately,” he said.
