On 20th November 2019, the Electricity Regulatory Authority launched the “PawaKapo” Media Campaign aimed at growing the number of Certified Wire Persons and promoting the use of Certified Wire Persons for electrical installation works by consumers.

The PawaKapo Media Campaign, sponsored by the World Bank supports the Government of Uganda efforts of increasing Access to Electricity through implementation of the Electricity Connections Policy that was launched in August 2018 and rolled out in November 2018.

Officiating at the launch of the Campaign, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Honourable Irene Muloni observed that the campaign was timely, as it addresses a shortfall in Electrical Wiring Services and the problem of irregular electricity connections which cause loss of lives and finances in the Energy Sector. 

Addressing stakeholders at the launch, the ERA Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, noted that Certified Wire Persons were central to the achievement of Government’s aspiration on increasing access to electricity. She affirmed that the number of Certified Wire Persons would be increased through provision of free training of potential Wire Persons at selected Vocational Training Institutes and Technical Colleges in the Central, Northern, Eastern, Western and West Nile Regions of the Country.

The Electricity Regulatory Authority signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Training Institutions that will undertake the training of potential Wire Persons, including Nakawa Vocational Training College, Uganda Technical College Lira, Rukungiri Technical Institute, Uganda Technical College Bushenyi, Arua Technical Institute, Uganda Technical College Elgon and Uganda Technical College Kyema in Masindi District.

Various stakeholders attended the launch ceremony that was held at the Protea Hotel Kampala. These included the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Mr. Robert Kasande, representatives of Government Agencies, Principals of the collaborating Training Institutions, Licensees, Civil Society Advocacy Groups, Wire Persons, and the Media.

About the PawaKapo Media Campaign

The PawaKapo Media Campaign gives an identity to Certified Persons that are authorized by the Electricity Regulatory Authority to undertake electrical installations or extensions to existing installations, as provided for by Section 88 of the Electricity Act, 1999.

The campaign worth US$200,000 is part of a wider program funded by the World Bank under Phase 3 of the Energy for Rural Transformation (ERT) Program. It targets to increase the number of Certified Wire Persons from 2,700to 4,000; and to encourage Electricity Consumers to utilize services of Certified Wire Persons to ensure safety of life and property and to empower the public to make informed decisions on Electrical Installations.

The campaign will introduce a technology to make electrical wiring services more accessible to the electricity users through a Mobile Phone Application where names of all the Wire Persons certified by the Electricity Regulatory Authority to carry out Electricity Installations across the Country will be uploaded.