Energy Ministry to introduce Power Efficiency Bill to address poor power consumption.
Kampala, Uganda – The State Minister for Energy, Hon. Okasai Opolot, has announced that the Ministry of Energy will soon table a Power Efficiency Bill in parliament. The proposed legislation, which has already been discussed by the Cabinet, is intended to address the issue of poor power consumption and will include penalties for non-compliance.
The Minister made the remarks at the second annual Electricity Dialogue with manufacturers, held at the UMA Show Ground in Lugogo. He stated that all stakeholders will be allowed to submit their proposals before the bill is debated and passed into law.
Hon. Okasai Opolot highlighted the critical economic contribution of the electricity sector. He pledged to improve power transmission by installing dedicated transmission lines at all industrial parks. Looking to the future, the Minister projected that Uganda will produce 5,200 megawatts by 2040 to support industrial expansion, with 10,000 megawatts allocated specifically to industries. He also committed to increasing electricity imports from neighboring countries like Kenya and South Sudan, with plans to later enhance connectivity with Tanzania.
Speaking at the same event, the State Minister for Trade, Hon. David Bahati, emphasized the industrial sector's vital role in the economy. He noted that the sector contributes twenty-eight percent to the national GDP, which stands at sixty-five billion shillings, and adds eight trillion shillings to the national revenue.
The Managing Director of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), Paul Mwesigwa, hailed the existing relationship with manufacturers. He announced that every factory in industrial areas will be assigned a dedicated UEDCL liaison officer to address power challenges promptly. Mwesigwa also provided context on consumption, revealing that UEDCL purchases 565 million units of electricity monthly, with manufacturers utilizing sixty percent of this supply.
The function was curtain-raised with the opening of a new UEDCL liaison office at the UMA grounds. The Chairperson of the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), Agha Sekalala, asked the ministry for a long-term plan aimed at increasing the existing power supply to meet growing demand. He also noted that manufacturers are still in negotiations with the government over the current electricity tariff charges.
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