Ugandans are growing increasingly suspicious about the ongoing power outages that have plagued the country for the last two months.
Unlike in the past, these blackouts are now happening frequently, coinciding with the nearing exit of UMEME, the private company that has managed Uganda’s electricity distribution for years.
The government’s ongoing dispute with UMEME over the buyout figure has added to the uncertainty, prompting citizens to question whether the outages are intentional.
Many believe the disruptions are connected to the looming transition, as UMEME prepares to hand over its operations to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) on April,1.
Master Chief, as he identifies himself on X, expressed frustration over frequent blackouts and urged UMEME to improve its services despite the company’s impending exit.
“Ugandans are frustrated by the worsening service delivery—power blackouts are now so frequent that having electricity feels like a rare privilege. I know you are breaking up with Uganda but Do better” he wrote.
Guma Morrish humorously praised candles for providing refuge, noting that his area sometimes goes up to three days without electricity.
“Our unsung herro since UMEME is leaving. This is distress for God’s SEK why are we Ugandans? How can power be off 3 days?,”
Small businesses, particularly those that rely heavily on electricity, have been hit hard by the power cuts. Entrepreneurs are voicing frustration, as prolonged outages threaten their livelihoods.
Paul Akankwasa, a businessman in Najjera, called on the government to intervene, stating that they have not had stable electricity for the past two months.
“The government should step in our businesses are dying. We’ve been pleading for reliable electricity since February. When you call UMEME, their numbers don’t go through, and when you visit their offices, they just play games,” he said.
It’s not just power that’s in short supply many have reported difficulties purchasing “yaka” (prepaid power) due to network failures, with some waiting days for the system to stabilize.
“Imagine paying for Yaka, only for the network to be down for two days! You’ve already paid, but you can’t access the service. I believe UMEME is doing this intentionally to inconvenience people since they know they’re leaving,” said Denis, a barber.
In response, Minister of Energy Ruth Nankabirwa recently addressed the public, urging patience during the transition.
She assured Ugandans that the changeover from UMEME to UEDCL would officially take place on April 1st, but questions remain about the possibility of a smooth transition without further disruptions.
On March 26th, the Ministry of Energy issued a statement attempting to clarify the situation, attributing the outages to growing demand that has caused certain substations to become overloaded.
While the Ministry promised that urgent upgrades and maintenance were underway, many Ugandans remain unconvinced, with some questioning whether the issues are truly about capacity or if they are being exacerbated by the ongoing buyout drama.
As the situation unfolds, the public is demanding clarity on whether the disruptions are part of a larger strategy related to the UMEME exit or if they are genuinely due to the growing electricity demand.
