The Leader of the Opposition has raised concerns over unreliable electricity supply, transformer failures and an alleged shortage of meters since UEDCL took over distribution from UMEME, urging the government to address the complaints.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi has questioned the performance of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), citing persistent power outages, transformer failures and delays in new connections, as about 400,000 people reportedly wait to be connected to the national grid.
Speaking in Parliament, Ssenyonyi raised concerns about electricity supply since UEDCL took over distribution from UMEME, pointing to complaints about unreliable power and an alleged shortage of electricity meters.
“I’ve seen some say that while Umeme was the frying pan, UEDCL seems to be the fire itself,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa asked the Opposition leader to await a report by the parliamentary committee handling the matter.
The committee chairperson said the report was being edited and that the committee would seek time to present it during next week’s parliamentary proceedings.
Ssenyonyi agreed to wait for the report but urged the government to prepare its response to the concerns raised, warning that authorities had been put on notice.
“Now you have been put on notice,” he said.
The Opposition leader also called for a separate, cheaper licensing framework for small Wi-Fi hotspot vendors, arguing that existing regulatory requirements place smaller operators at a disadvantage compared with major telecommunications companies.
He was responding to a Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) directive issued on October 13, 2026, banning the vending of Wi-Fi hotspots. Ssenyonyi said the directive affects about 4,000 vendors serving approximately 1.5 million users.
He questioned why small operators in areas such as Bwaise, Kasese and Gulu should face the same licensing requirements as multinational telecommunications firms.
“We are saying the law is clear. But why not come up with regulations to say, let’s cater for these smaller players also, because they are doing incredible work to ensure Internet penetration,” he said.
Ssenyonyi cited Kenya and Rwanda as examples of countries with lighter licensing arrangements for small retailers, urging the government to consider a similar approach to protect small businesses and expand internet access.