Electricity Regulatory Authority excites President Museveni with tangible Achievements

Electricity Regulatory Authority excites President Museveni with tangible Achievements

As Government continue to review and assess its performance towards implementation of the NRM Manifesto, President Museveni speaks openly on the achievements registered in the electricity sector and points out the role played by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA).The NRM Government promised to ensure clean and affordable electricity and we are indeed on the right path-President Museveni said.

Installed electricity capacity in Uganda in 2020 was 1,268.9 megawatts (MW) with demand at 737 MW, leaving a surplus of 532 MW.  President Museveni in 2019 commissioned the 183 MW Isimba Hydro Power Dam, and the 600 MW Karuma Hydro Power Dam is slated to come online this year.

Recognising his contribution in reforming the electricity Sector in Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was awarded by Public Opinions with the Uganda Peace and Development Champion Award.

Electricity is a key factor in the social economic transformation of Uganda holistic program. It’s actually an engine for industrialization and hence social-economic transformation.The Government of Uganda under the leadership of H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni prioritized increasing Uganda’s energy production, foreign investment in the sector has increased.  The Electricity Regulatory Authority has been at the forefront of transforming the electricity sector to offer the best to the people of Uganda.

The number of customers on the grid increased by 11% in the FY 2019/20 from the 1,454,219 during the FY2018/19. About 94% of the customers on the network are domestic customers with the other customer categories constituting 6%. Umeme Limited accounts for 93% of the total customers, UEDL had a 5% share while the other distribution companies account for 2%.

It’s important to note that the addition of the Karuma Hydro Power Dam is projected to boost Uganda’s total capacity by 48% and leave potentially over 1000 MW of excess power generation capacity.

According to Mr Julius Wandera the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), The transformation of the electricity sector in Uganda is attributed to the wise leadership of H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the determination of the board and management of electricity regulatory Authority,the Ministry of Energy and Minerals development as well as the licensed private sector companies and public entities.

Infrastructure expansion in the energy sector has been a central point of interest in all documents that detail the government’s strategy and plans for economic development. Whereas Vision 2040 and the first two national development plans mainly focused on the expansion of the installed energy generation capacity, the third plan aims to make this generated energy better available to households and businesses.

As part of the first two plans, the sector (nearly) finalized its two flagship projects: the construction of the Karuma (600MW) and Isimba (183MW) hydropower dams. The installed generation capacity more than doubled from 601MW in 2010 to 1,252MW by the end of 2019 and is expected to further increase once the Karuma dam is fully operational in November 2020 (ERA, 2019; NDP III, NPA, 2020; MoFPED, 2020b). Unfortunately, the installed capacity is not fully utilized because of gaps in the transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Uganda has approximately 3,101 km of transmission lines, which the government aims to increase to 4,354 km by 2025.

As investment in transmission is still insufficient, some existing generation capacity cannot be distributed.  Additional investment is also needed to enable export of electricity to other countries in the region.  The ERA regulates licensing, generation, transmission, and distribution.  Uganda’s power tariffs are set on a quarterly basis, and the average tariff to consumers is $0.15/kWh ($0.13/kWh for large industrial users), with the first 15 units of power subsidized.

Uganda’s Electricity Supply Industry was greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the peak demand dropping to as low as 588.5 MW in April 2020 having dropped from 728.7 MW in February 2020. The maximum demand registered in 2020 was 736MW in November 2020.

Uganda operates a Single Bulk Supplier Model in Electricity Transmission. The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) has a License for Bulk Power Supply, Import, and Export of Electricity as well as a System Operator. During the FY2019/20; UETCL purchased and sold 4,329.4 GWh and 4171.4 GWh respectively.

The energy purchases and sales in the FY 2019/20 increased but at a decreasing rate, recording an annual growth rate of 2% far below the 6% average annual growth rate observed since FY 2015/16. This drop in the growth rate is partly due to the market performance constraints imposed by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Uganda’s Tariff Structure classifies Electricity Customers into Six Categories these are, Domestic, Commercial, Medium Industrial, Large Industrial, Extra-Large Industrial, and Street Lights.

Uganda’s Electricity sub-Sector is run under a liberalized set up following its Liberalization in 1997 and the enactment of the Electricity Act, 1999. The Liberalization and enactment of the Electricity Act, 1999, mandated the unbundling of Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) which was a monopoly managing generation, transmission, distribution, sale, import, and export of Uganda’s Electricity.

Uganda’s Electricity Supply Industry is now regulated under the Electricity Act, 1999, Chapter 145, the Energy Policy, the National Environment Act, Chapter 153, and the Statutory Instruments and Guidelines issued by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA).

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ABOUT PUBLIC OPINIONS

Public Opinions was founded by Makerere University students in 2004 in Lumumba Hall Makerere University and it operated as a study group on students welfare as well as Networking. In 2008 it was incorporated as a company Limited by Guarantee by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).

Public Opinions work towards attainment of Uganda Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

CORE SERVICES

• Issues Research
• Document Processing
• Public Awareness and Advisory Services
• Information Dissemination
• Public Relations
• Personal and Corporate Profiling
• Corporate Branding and Printing
• Training and Mentorship
• Investment Advisory Services
• Study Tours and Exchange Programs

MILESTONES/SOME ACHIEVEMENTS OF PUBLIC OPINIONS 

1. In 2009, Public Opinions organized a High Level United NATIONS Millennium Development Goals Dialogue at Hotel Africa Kampala and it attracted stakeholders from the Public and Private Sector, Religious Leaders and Diplomats.
2. In 2009, Public Opinions organized 5 Small and Medium Enterprises Sessions for Youth Leaders such as at Gretton Hotel in Masaka which was addressed by Brig David Muhoozi who was commander of the Armoury Brigade in Masaka. Others Speakers included Prof Maggie Kigozi, Ambassador of ICELAND to UGANDA, Dr Kassim Omar who was Director of East Africa Business Council,etc. The Luwero SMEs Sessions for Youth Leaders organised by Public Opinions was presided over by Katikiro of Buganda JB Walusimbi and Hajji Abdul Nadduli.
3. In 2010, Public Opinions organized the Buganda Youth Leaders Conference on wealth Creation. The conference was held at Katikomu Country Hotel in Kayunga and it was presided over by the Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi who was the minister for Security and Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement (NRM).It was attended by youth leaders from Central Region. Key speakers were from Uganda Investment Authority and Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID).
4. In 2011,Public Opinions organised a Kampala Wealth Creation Awareness Conference for Youth Leaders
5. In 2012,Public Opinions organized the 2012 Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony which was presided over by Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda
6. In 2012,Public Opinions organized the Uganda Who is Who Summit at imperial Royale Hotel and launched a book titled Uganda Who is Who Book of Records launched by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi
7. In 2013, Public Opinions organized the Pearl of Africa Lifetime Achievement Award (PALITA Award) in which over 80 High Profile Personalities were awarded and inducted in the Uganda Who is who Book of Records. Rt Hon Amama Mbabazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda Presided over.
8. In 2014, Public Opinions organized the 2014 High Level Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony in which 50 Responsible Investments were awarded. The Ceremony was presided over by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni President of the Republic of Uganda, Rt Hon Amama Mbababazi Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda and Prof Emmanuel Mutebile Governor Bank of Uganda.
9. In 2017, Public Opinions recognized the Embassy of Italy to Uganda with the 2017 Uganda Transformation Award. The Award was received by the Ambassador of Italy.
10. In 2017, Public Opinions recognized the European Union Delegation to Uganda with the 2017 Uganda Transformation award. The Award was received by the Ambassador of European Union Delegation to Uganda
11. In November 2017, Public Opinions recognized the University of Bologna in Italy with the Global Sustainable Development Award as the oldest continuing University in the world. The Award was received by the Rector University of Bologna in his Office in the city of Bologna in Italy. This was followed with a meeting between Rector University of Bologna and Luzindana Adam Buyinza Team Leader of Public Opinions.
12. In 2018, Public Opinions in partnership with the Asia Africa Development Council in new Delhi India organized the Asia Africa Development Summit in New Delhi Republic of India.
13. In 2016, Public Opinions and Computer Society of India together with Asia Africa development Council organized the India-Africa ICT Summit. The summit was held in New Delhi Capital of the Republic of India.
14. On 22^ndNovember 2019, Public Opinions held a High Level Uganda Responsible Investment Summit and Award Ceremony which was presided over by H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Hon Evelyn Anite Minister of State for Investment and Privatization. During the Summit, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was declared the Uganda Peace and Development Champion by Public Opinions and 62 Uganda Responsible Investments were recognized with the 2019 Uganda Responsible Investment Award (URI Award).

15. With the Outbreak of the Global Pandemic the COVID 19, Public Opinions WAS awarded contract for mass social media and field based Public Awareness and Advisory service to senstise the people of Uganda on COVID 19,How its transmitted and how Ugandans can stay Safe.

Since its founding in 2004, Public Opinions as been involved in mass information dissemination across the country, Public Awareness,Research,Training and mentorship of young people and in communities, Business Advisory services to small and medium enterprises in trading centres, etc.

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