The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development recently handed over electricity connection accessories to Ugandaโs main power distribution company, UMEME Limited, for last-mile connectivity of 87,500 rural households to affordable electricity.
The Ugandan government, with support from the African Development Bank and other partners, has launched the last-mile connectivity component under the Uganda Rural Electricity Access Project in Iganga in the eastern Luuka District.
The objective of the project is to provide reliable and affordable electricity to rural households, public institutions, and small and medium enterprises. Overall, the scheme will contribute significantly to meeting the countryโs National Development Plan goal of increasing electricity access to 60%.
The African Development Bank in September 2015 extended a $100 million loan to the government for the project in addition to an $13 million grant from the European Unionโs Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund.
In her remarks at the launch events, Ugandan Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa, thanked the Bank and the European Union for facilitating the governmentโs efforts to extend electricity to rural communities.
The minister urged the project beneficiaries to take advantage of the governmentโs free electricity supply policy it rolled out in 2018, provided wiring of their premises had been certified.
The project aligns with one of the Bankโs High 5 priority areas, โLight Up and Power Africaโ. Currently, the Bankโs active portfolio in Uganda comprises 24 operations with a net commitment of about $1.71 billion.
Specifically, the Bank is involved in the entire value chain of the Uganda Electricity Supply Industry, covering generation, transmission and distribution, with support totalling more than $666 million through public and private sector financing.
Author: Zeenat Ganie
This article was originally published on ESI Africa and is republished with permission with minor editorial changes.