Uganda electricity restoration and trader protests

Residents in the Luuka and Iganga districts have celebrated the restoration of electricity following a ten month period of darkness. The power outages, which began in March 2026, were attributed to transformer failures caused by severe grid overloading and illegal power connections. In response, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) and the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) installed two new transformers, with a third scheduled for installation to stabilize the local supply.

Simultaneously, the National Entrepreneurs and Traders Association (NETA) Uganda is demanding the resignation of UEDCL acting managing director Eng Joselynne Rwabwogo. NETA president Dr Thadeus Musoke Nagenda stated that persistent blackouts and power fluctuations have caused significant business losses and damaged electrical equipment. The association is calling for a government investigation and an independent audit of UEDCL operations to address the recurring outages and resource management.