EDITOR
At least 12 new transformers have been installed on electricity lines that have been non-operational for over nine years, following technical and contractual challenges by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The Ministry of Energy’s Commissioner in charge of rural electrification, Eng. Abdon Atwine, officially commissioned the restored lines at Mujwa Primary School in Ntungamo Sub County on Monday. He noted that the move will significantly improve electricity distribution, allowing more households to access power and supporting the area’s overall development.
“These are areas where lines were previously vandalized. We have now installed 12 transformers to get them operational. We hope residents will use electricity responsibly. Currently, only 24% of Ugandans access the main grid, with 30% obtaining electricity through other means. Our goal is to expand main grid coverage to 80% by 2040, which we cannot achieve if lines remain idle due to avoidable issues,” Eng. Atwine said.
He also revealed that at least one million households across Uganda will receive free electricity connections in the next two years through a $630 million grant, which will further enhance access and connectivity. “The connections will follow the order of applications, and we also plan to extend more lines,” he added.
Among the newly restored lines, eight transformers have been installed on infrastructure constructed in 2017 but never activated due to disagreements between REA, UEDCL, and UMEME over ownership. Three of these lines are in Ntungamo Municipality, two in Ntungamo Sub County, and three in Kajara County. The remaining four transformers were replacements for previously vandalized units.
Ms. Berinda Murungi, the Ntungamo District UEDCL Manager, said the district currently has 153 transformers over more than 800km of line, but over 70% of the area is still without power, highlighting the need for further expansion.
Residents, who have been waiting nearly a decade for power, expressed mixed emotions. “For the past nine years, we have seen wires passing through our village with no electricity. People installed technical wiring in their homes in anticipation of power in 2017. Some were even issued certificates, but no one was connected. We were told transformers had been vandalized. We are glad the project is launched now, but we still have doubts about receiving power,” said Mr. Edward Natamba of Mpaama Village.
Former Ntungamo Women MP, Ms. Beatrice Rwakimari, hailed the project as a relief to the community, saying the initiative she lobbied for can finally benefit residents, many of whom had lost hope.
The Ntungamo Resident District Commissioner, Ms. Mirriam Kagaiga, urged communities to help monitor and protect the electricity lines from vandals to ensure continuous service.
