By Deep Earth
A plan to undertake a performance review of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (UEDCL), with a possibility of shaking up its management, has pitted Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja against her junior, Energy and Mineral Development Minister, Ruth Nankabirwa.
The squabble, which comes nine months after UEDCL took over the main concession of distributing electricity from Umeme, represents the struggles the sector faces today as the last mile consumers of electricity complain about the poor quality of service.
In a December 3, 2025 letter, titled, “Halt The Process Of Planned Massive Termination Of UEDCL Senior Management Staff”, Nabbanja says she is aware Nankabirwa had ordered a performance review and possible massive termination of UEDCL’s senior management team (SMT).
Amongst her directives to Nankabirwa, the PM says, “The (UEDCL) board is instructed to halt all the processes that it is undertaking or it intends to undertake in connection to this matter.”
She added: “By copy of this letter, the UEDCL board chairperson and members should take note of my directives.”
However, a press statement issued by the Energy Ministry today, December 5, 2025 emphasizes that the the UEDCL board was already, “in the final stages of undertaking the inquiry and will submit its findings to the ministry.”
The inquiry was to be done “in a clear, actionable, and time-bound manner” including making “corrective actions to address the identified lapses and restore confidence in UEDCL”, the statement added.
With the audit, the Energy Ministry says, it wants to ensure reliable power supply, accountability, due process and professionalism in the management of the distribution network while raising confidence in the management and performance of the national electricity sector.
The Ministry statement says it will continue to work with all relevant government entities before subsequently briefing Cabinet on a way forward.
ERA Assessment
Both the Prime Minister’s letter and Ministry statement mention a performance assessment on UEDCL that was carried out by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) – reviewing the company’s effectiveness since it took over the national electricity distribution deal from Umeme on April 1, this year.
In her letter, the PM warns against firing any of the senior managers as they are still overseeing a vital transition period in the power distribution network that had seen 2,712 permanent and 1,760 temporary staff pooled together.
“Your proposed massive termination of the SMT will significantly cause unnecessary destabilization in the general UEDCL workforce, increase power outages and adversely affect the industrial sector in addition to other programs and government image,” Nabbanja writes.
The Energy Ministry is determined to take action, however.
“To date, no staff member has been dismissed from the UEDCL awaiting the finding of the internal inquiry… However, whoever will be found culpable will be handled in line with the relevant law and company policies,” the Ministry statement reads in part.
UEDCL’s challenges since it took over from Umeme have been well documented. From incessant power blackouts countrywide, to threadbare infrastructure that needs urgent repair and replacing to financial challenges, the Paul Mwesigwa led firm is experiencing it all.
UEDCL MD, Paul Mwesigwa at the public hearing discussing the takeover from Umeme
Interestingly, Nankabirwa has severally asked for patience in regards to the state company, arguing that once it gets adequate capital from the government, it would improve the network infrastructure and provide reliable power to consumers.
Incidentally, the infrastructure breakdown was self-inflicted as ERA barred Umeme from making costly capital expenditures as its 20 year power distribution wound down, so as to keep down the buyout amount (the final payment for its unrecovered investments).
In her letter, the Prime Minister referenced the faulty infrastructure as well, saying, “Support the current UEDCL SMT, to stabilize the network which I am told was left in a sorry operational state by Umeme.”
After all, the network refurbishment material was procured and was already in transit, the PM claimed.
Private Investment
The other key issue that Nabbanja raises is the possibility of the private sector returning to national electricity distribution, less than a year since the exit of Umeme.
“With lessons learnt from Umeme, your proposed re-introduction of private power suppliers in form of joint ventures needs to be well structured, studied and discussed by the whole Government in Cabinet with adequate guidance from H.E the President after this heightened political season,” writes the PM.
She further calls for suspensions of any plans aimed at re-introducing private players or joint ventures in the power distribution sector until the Rationalization of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) was concluded.
Asked whether the government was considering welcoming back the private sector into national power distribution, Irene Bateebe, the Permanent Secretary at the Energy Ministry, said: “No… But for now, the (Ministry) statement is the Government’s position.”
In a later post on her verified personal account, Nankabirwa echoed her PS’ take, writing: “For clarity, there has been NO consideration or proposal to introduce a private power operator into @UEDCLTD’s distribution mandate!”
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