The ongoing power outages and load shedding is due to an overwhelming demand for electricity, the ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has said.
In a statement, the ministry acknowledged the instability in power supply affecting several parts of the country. However, it reassured the public of its commitment to meeting the nation’s energy needs “efficiently and sustainably.”
While power supply remained relatively stable last year, the ministry noted that the current demand is exceeding the available supply capacity.
The outages come as Uganda transitions from a 20-year electricity distribution concession held by Umeme Ltd to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL), which takes over network management on April 1.
“As the national electricity demand grew, certain substations became overloaded. This has necessitated urgent upgrades to some parts of the electricity transmission and distribution network,” the statement read.
The ministry highlighted several factors contributing to the power disruptions including critical infrastructure breakdowns have interrupted services in affected areas. The ministry says in some regions, even intact infrastructure has struggled to handle the growing load.
Furthermore, criminal activities, particularly along the Kawanda-Masaka transmission line, have significantly disrupted supply.
Areas along the Gulu highway, including Kiryandongo and Karuma, remain vulnerable to wildfires that damage transmission lines, further worsening the situation. The ministry emphasized that urgent maintenance and upgrade projects are underway to improve power supply reliability and address capacity limitations in various regions.
Excuse with technology nothing is impossible: You always anticipate ahead knowing population and demands grow every day. Do not wait for it to hqppen to look for solutions.
The explanation is, but STUPID, we know Uganda “Exports” electricity to Tanzania and Rwanda and their is stable, new dams have also been built what do ya mean with Demand, has it just increased after UMEME goes?
They are preparingour minds for future disappointments as UEDCL takes over from UMEME.