Uganda Urged to Boost Last-Mile Electricity Investment for Economic Growth

Uganda’s Energy and Mineral Development Minister, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, has called on Parliament to support increased investment in last-mile electricity connections to enhance the country’s value addition efforts. She emphasized that while the national grid passes through many constituencies, short-stretch distribution lines limit access in key areas.

This response followed concerns from Arua City Woman MP, Hon. Mourine Osoru, who highlighted power distribution challenges in West Nile’s trading centers, markets, and churches. Osoru also questioned the affordability of electricity for the newly connected region, saying, “If power is expensive, the national grid will remain at the substations.”

Minister Nankabirwa reassured Parliament that electricity tariffs have been decreasing yearly, and further reductions will make power more affordable. She highlighted the national grid’s potential to offer cheaper alternatives compared to costly and environmentally harmful heavy fuel oil (HFO) generation.

The conversation followed the official commissioning of the 132KV Kole-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua transmission line by President Yoweri Museveni on August 3, 2024, connecting West Nile to the national grid.