The Ugandan government has announced plans to connect 54,000 new customers in rural areas to the national grid before the end of 2024. This initiative is part of the Uganda Rural Electricity Access Project (UREAP), supported by the African Development Bank and European Union.
“We are in the process of connecting close to 54,000 onto the grid on a single phase, and we shall also consider three phases for those who deal in milling and other businesses, including health centers, schools, and churches, among others,” said Samuel Bishop, UREAP Project Coordinator.
Since its inception in 2015, the project has already connected 87,540 households across 981 villages to the grid.
“The project has been able to extend the grid by about 1,790 kilometers and over 2,600 kilometers of low voltage, which connects from the line to individual customers,” Bishop explained. He added, “We have installed 981 transformers at different load centers, including town centers and villages that have been connected to the grid,” Bishop said.
The government is currently negotiating with the African Development Bank for an additional loan to further expand electricity access. “So far, we have spent over $85 million of the loan, and the remaining 15% of the loan is still outstanding to be paid out as the contractors close out their activities,” Bishop said.
The Uganda Rural Electricity Access Project has made significant progress in bridging the energy gap in rural areas.
