The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) reaffirmed its commitment to openness and accountability by engaging Ugandans in the 2026 Annual Tariff Review Public Hearing.
The consultative forum brought together key stakeholders to discuss proposed 2026 budgets and investment plans by the Uganda Electricity Generation Co. Ltd, Uganda Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd, and the Uganda Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd.
Hosted at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, the hybrid event drew a cross-section of the electricity sector stakeholders: licensees, government representatives, development partners, consumer advocates, media, University Students and members of the public in a spirited exchange of views on the tariff applications.
Presiding over the hearing, the ERA Board Chairperson, Eng. Grania Rosette Rubomboras emphasized the Authority’s resolve to anchor all tariff decisions on transparency, evidence, and stakeholder participation, describing the process as “a cornerstone of regulatory legitimacy and public trust.”
Powering Decisions Through Dialogue
Each year, ERA reviews and determines electricity tariffs in line with the Electricity Act, Cap 157, and the Electricity (Tariff Code) Regulations, 2003 and the respective licenses issues to the applicants. The process is deliberately consultative, built on data, public input, and robust scrutiny.
In November 2025, ERA received tariff applications from the Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), and Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL). The Authority promptly issued a public notice inviting Ugandans to access and review the applications both online and at ERA House.
The Public Hearing provides a rare opportunity for the public to look behind the numbers — to understand how proposed costs, investments, and efficiencies translate into the tariffs that they eventually pay per unit of electricity consumed. The Public Hearing allows ERA to:
- Rigorously test the justification of proposed expenditures and projects;
- Capture public feedback and sector expectations; and
- Reinforce accountability in tariff determination.
Uganda’s Power Sector on a Growth Trajectory
Presenting the Electricity Supply Industry performance update, ERA’s Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, highlighted a year of strong growth and infrastructure expansion.
Uganda’s installed generation capacity now stands at 2,098 MW, supported by 5,383 km of transmission lines and nearly 80,000 km of distribution infrastructure. Peak demand climbed to 1,300 MW by June 2025 — a 25% increase from the previous year while grid connections rose to 2.52 million customers, achieving an estimated 60–65% national electricity access.
Despite this progress, Eng. Waako noted emerging challenges that require collective attention, including energy losses, vandalism of infrastructure, land-related project delays, and supply reliability concerns. “Overcoming these barriers is essential for sustaining sector growth and ensuring that electricity remains both reliable and affordable,” she said.
Driving Universal Access and Regional Growth
Looking ahead, ERA reiterated Uganda’s long-term ambition to achieve universal electricity access by 2030 and expand generation capacity to 52,481 MW by 2040 milestones that will underpin industrialization, regional trade, and socio-economic transformation. The Authority underscored that realizing these goals will demand stronger collaboration among government, private sector players, development partners, and communities.