Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) Managing Director, Mr. Paul Mwesigwa, has affirmed that the transition from private utility provider Umeme to UEDCL was executed seamlessly, with key systems maintained and improved in the first days of the takeover.
Addressing the public and stakeholders, Mwesigwa said, “Our first obligation at midnight of the 1st of April was to make sure that the lights are on across the country, and I believe people woke up in the morning when there was light in their pubs and factories.”
He emphasized that vending services, critical for prepaid electricity, remained fully operational.
“If you check your gadgets or phones, you’ll see UEDCL Light and UEDCL. UEDCL Light is for those customers who were using Umeme services but have now transitioned to our platform,” he explained. “Vending is up and running, both online and through banking partners.” he said
However, Mwesigwa admitted that the company inherited serious operational issues.
“During an audit on the 1st and 2nd of April, we discovered 113 transformers were not working. By April 3rd, we had issued replacements from our stores and deployments are ongoing,” he noted, assuring that all transformers would be operational by week’s end.
He also promised long-term upgrades, including transformation and smart technology investment. “We’re investing $74 million in the first 10 months to stabilize the network and improve service. Our operational model is rooted in efficiency and sustainability.”
Responding to social media skepticism, Mwesigwa defended the company’s financial and technical capacity. “UEDCL is a financially sustainable institution managed on a governance model of self-sustainability. We secured relatively cheap funding without collateral. The bank’s evaluation showed our systems and governance are comparable or better than private institutions,” he said.
He concluded by reassuring consumers: “The regulator has already announced fair tariffs, and we will continue to run a cost-effective system that delivers value for money.”