Will UEDCL offer Free connection?
Over 900,000 households across Uganda are set to receive free electricity connections under the ambitious Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP), a multi-billion initiative backed by the World Bank.
When did Government launch the free electricity connection plan?
The Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), on Friday, July 11, officially rolled out a national free electricity connection initiative under the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP). The launch marks the implementation of a Shs2.3 trillion ($638 million) programme that aims to connect more than 900,000 households to the national power grid.
At the centre of the rollout are two strategic agreements signed between the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) and the Ministry — the Results-Based Financing (RBF) Agreement and the Materials Provision Agreement.
Under the RBF agreement, UEDCL will finance 508,035 new connections using its own funds. The government, through the Ministry of Energy, will reimburse the utility firm for each verified connection, with oversight from an independent verification agent to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Materials Provision Agreement, meanwhile, covers 388,400 connections, with the Ministry supplying essential infrastructure like poles, conductors, meters, and accessories. UEDCL will handle labour and transport, for which it will also be compensated after verification.
Both agreements are in line with Uganda’s Energy Policy and Energy Transition Plan, which aim to raise electricity access across the country from the current 60 percent to 100 percent.
Speaking at the launch event at Petroleum House in Entebbe, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Eng Irene Bateebe, described the initiative as a “massive step” in expanding access to electricity, especially in underserved communities.
“We have a free connection policy where we support a single pole and no pole at zero cost,” she explained. “As long as customers are within a 90-metre radius of a low-voltage pole, they are eligible to apply and receive this free connection.”
She added that the programme is not just targeting households but also essential institutions such as schools, health centres, industrial parks, and businesses, with a goal of unlocking 500 megawatts (MW) of additional demand. The ministry aims to deliver over one million connections by 2027, with UEDCL expected to handle at least 400,000 annually.
On his part, UEDCL Managing Director Mr Paul Mwesigwa said the company has already embarked on an aggressive digitisation campaign to streamline the application process and eliminate non-authorised players from the system.
“We have digitalised the process by making it easy for customers and certified wiremen to apply online,” he said. “With this model, we believe we can deliver the project free of governance and corruption issues.”
To meet demand and reduce backlog, UEDCL is recruiting 400 new staff, aiming to deploy up to 900 technicians in the field. Mr Mwesigwa revealed that when UEDCL took over power distribution operations from Umeme on March 31, it inherited a backlog of 127,000 pending connections. Of these, 30,000 have already been cleared, and the company targets clearing 90,000 more within the next 60 days.
Mr Mwesigwa acknowledged that the task ahead is enormous.
“This target is huge and has never been achieved before. But we are confident in our capacity to meet it,” he said.
Ms Sylvia Birungi, the EASP Connections Manager, encouraged Ugandans to start applying for the free connections immediately. Applicants will be required to pay only Shs23,600, which covers inspection fees for house wiring.
“This applies to both those who don’t need a pole and those that require just one,” she clarified.
The rollout of the EASP marks a new era for Uganda’s rural and urban households, with increased access to reliable electricity expected to boost education, healthcare, industrialisation, and overall quality of life.
For updates on the programme, Ugandans are encouraged to follow the Ministry’s official WhatsApp and Telegram channels.
