On the 28th of May 2022, the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) through its Installation Permits Committee (IPC) Certified 36 (Thirty-Six) PawaKapos in Mbarara City, in a bid to increase the number of PawaKapos operating in Uganda’s Electricity Supply Industry. The PawaKapos were certified to carry out Domestic and Industrial Electrical Installation Works within Mbarara City and other parts of the country.

Prior to the Certification, the IPC sensitized the PawaKapos with an aim of equipping them with more practical skills in Electrical Installation, to help them do their work effectively.

While addressing the PawaKapos after Certification, the Representative of the Distribution Companies on the IPC, Eng. Enoch Mwebesa, encouraged them to always be vigilant while carrying out the Installation Works, to be professional and efficient.

Ms. Charlotte Kyohairwe the Senior Legal Officer at ERA, urged the PawaKapos to ensure that they operate within the relevant laws that govern their profession, in order to avoid being culprits of related charges.

Ms. Kyohairwe further noted that PawaKapos need to ensure safety as they carry out Electrical Installations to reduce on fire outbreaks in domestic, commercial, and industrial premises caused by illegal and unprofessional electrical installations.

Section 88 (1) and (2) of the Electricity Act, 1999, mandates ERA to certify all Electricians to ensure that they operate in a secure, professional, effective and efficient manner.

As Uganda aspires to achieve 60 percent Electricity Access by 2040, Electricians play a key role in getting the population connected. Based on this fact, the Authority conducts regional IPC activities, to grow the number of PawaKapos especially for classes C and D from the current 1,300 to 3,000 for the effective implementation of the Electricity Connections Policy that will see Uganda’s achievement of the 60% Access to Electricity by 2040.