The Last Mile Electrification Project (Phase 2), initiative aims to connect at least 40,000 households across 34 districts and two islands in Lake Victoria: Koome and Bugaya.
Officials from the Ministry of Energy, European Union (EU) and the French Development Agency (AFD) visiting peri-urban areas in Mpigi. Photo by Dominic Ochola,
The government has signed a 40 billion Shillings grant from the European Union (EU) and the French
Development Agency (AFD), to expand the electricity grid and connect more
households, businesses, and public institutions in rural and peri-urban areas.
The last mile electrification project
(Phase 2), an initiative that will be implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral
Development, aims to connect at least 40,000 households across 34 districts and
two islands in Lake Victoria: Koome and Bugaya.
The
project seeks to bridge Uganda’s electricity access gap by extending the
distribution network and ensuring last-mile connections, improving livelihoods,
and boosting socio-economic development.
The
grant contribution agreement was signed at the Mpigi
District Headquarters by Sidronius
Okasaai Opolot, Uganda’s Minister of State for Energy; EU Ambassador H.E. Jan Sadek; and
representatives from AFD.
Mpigi Chief Administrative Officer Edith
Namayega emphasized that the agreement marks a significant step in
expanding electricity access, in line with Uganda Vision 2040 and the United
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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According
to Eng. Abdon Atwine,
Commissioner for Rural Electrification at the Ministry of Energy, the project
involves extending Uganda’s Medium
Voltage grid by 1,800km and the Low
Voltage distribution network by 1,300km across 34 districts.
He
urged communities to support the initiative by granting wayleaves for power
lines to prevent delays.
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The
first phase of the project has
already impacted over 200,000 people
in 16 districts, contributing to economic growth. The EU has so far enabled 1.5 million Ugandans to access electricity, with
projections to reach another 3 million
by 2027.
EU
Ambassador H.E. Jan Sadek
highlighted the project’s role in Uganda’s goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2030.
“This project isn’t just about numbers—it’s about
people. It’s about schools where children can study in the evening, health
centres that can safely store vaccines and farmers who can process and store
their produce efficiently. It’s about providing clean e-cooking solutions that
improve health and reduce environmental impact,”
Sadek stated.
He
also urged the Ugandan government to expedite the signing of the associated
financing agreement with AFD, pending completion of feasibility studies and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.
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Sadek
reaffirmed the EU’s Global Gateway
Strategy, through which Team
Europe aims to bridge the infrastructure investment gap by prioritizing
sustainable development. The strategy seeks to mobilize EUR 300 billion globally by 2027, with half of the funds
allocated to Sub-Saharan Africa,
unlocking over €1 billion in potential
investments in Uganda’s energy sector.
With
this funding, Uganda moves closer to bridging the electricity gap and fostering
inclusive development across rural and peri-urban areas.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and later Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
