Profile for Energy Sector of Uganda
Uganda’s energy potential
Uganda has the following potential sources of energy;
Hydropower potential 4,500MW
Biomass co-generation 1,650MW
Geothermal 450MW
Peat power 800MW
Others potential sources include petroleum energy, wind , solar power , fossil fuel thermal and nuclear energy .
Renewal and Non-Renewal Sources
Renewable Resources
The renewable resources include hydro, wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and peat.
Non –renewal resources
The non-renewable sources include bio fuel and fuel wood.
Uganda energy consumption
The total energy consumption in Uganda is estimated at over 5 million tons of oil of which 93% is derived from biomass (wood/ charcoal and agricultural residue); electricity and oil products constitute 7%. About 70.3 % of the energy is consumed in residential activities, 13.6% for commercial , 10.7% for Industrial , 5% for transport and 0.4% other uses . Most of the energy consumed for residential activities is woody biomass energy mainly because of high tariff and low generation of electricity power.
Installed electricity capacity
Uganda is still deficient in infrastructure, especially energy, roads, air transport, water transport and railways.. Therefore the Government is committed to improve electricity generation and supply to support industrialization, as well as ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy. According ERA, the country’s current installed generation capacity totaled about 930MW, as of end of 2017. An additional 783MW will be added to the national grid on completion of the 600MW Karuma and 183 MW Isimba power projects during FY 2018.
The Government plans to build additional electricity generating capacity at Murchison Falls (700MW), Oryang (392MW), Uhuru (350MW), Kiba (300MW) and Albatros thermal plant (50MW) among others. The additional generation will give Uganda a capacity of 4,356MW.
Per capita electricity consumption
Uganda has one of the lowest electrification rates in Africa, at 20% of the population, and one of the lowest per capita electricity consumption rates in the world, at 71 kWh per capita per year. This is compared to the SSA average of 552 kWh per capita and the world average of 2,975 kWh per capital.
Rural electrification
Uganda has the lowest electrification rates in Africa, at 22% in 2017. Rural electrification is estimated at less than 7 % of the rural population. About 84% of population of Uganda live in rural areas.
Market for solar energy
The market includes non-electrified rural households, schools, businesses and non-commercial establishments such as churches, mosques, health centers and community centers.
Market for micro hydro power
The market segments include electrifying rural households, schools, businesses, health centers, hotels, real estate housing projects, industries and non-commercial establishments such as churches, mosques, and community centers.
Market for charcoal briquettes
The market for charcoal briquettes includes rural and urban households, schools and institutions like prisons and hospitals.
Regulatory framework
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD)
The ministry is responsible for establishing, promoting the development, strategically managing and safeguarding the rational and sustainable exploitation and utilization of energy and mineral resources for social and economic development.
Legal framework
The Uganda electricity sector is regulated under the Electricity Act 1999, Cap 145, the Energy Policy, the National Environment Act Cap 153 and the Statutory Instruments and Guidelines issued by Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA). The petroleum is regulated under Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act.
The electricity sector
The sector has the following three companies with responsibility as indicated;
The Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL)
The company manages the electricity generation.
Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL)
It manages the electricity transmission.
Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL)
It manages the electricity distribution. All the three companies are licensed and regulated by ERA.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA)
ERA regulates the Uganda electricity sector.
Electricity distribution companies
The licensed companies include Umeme Limited, West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo), Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), Bundibugyo Electricity Cooperative Society (BECS); Kyegegwa Rural Energy Cooperative Society (KRECS); Pader-Abim Community Multi-Purpose Electric Cooperative Society (PACMECS); Kilembe Investments Limited (KIL); and Kalangala Infrastructure Services Limited (KIS). Umeme Co. Ltd. is the largest energy distributor in Uganda, distributing 97 percent of all electricity in the country.
Challenges in the energy sector
The challenges include the following:
- Increasing urban and rural population;
- High cost of funding
- Development of adequate local expertise to manage the sector
- High costs of transports of imported oil products for the production of power.
- Insufficient standardization and quality control of petroleum products and inadequate enforcement and uncoordinated safety measures.
- Lack of adequate awareness by both consumers and producers of the renewable energy alternatives and technology availability
- The country has low generation capacity to meet the increasing demand;
- Lack of sufficient institutional, legal & regulatory framework;
- High upfront costs of renewable energy technologies which makes the energy quite expensive;
- The energy development exercise must be made in an environmental friendly manner and consultations with environmental groups that takes some time;
- The income levels of the households in the rural sector are at moment quite low to afford electricity.
Investment opportunities
Uganda has a fully liberalized energy sector. Electricity generated by a private producer can be sold to the national grid. The government has prioritized solar energy development as a way of speeding up rural electrification. Generation of power from garbage does not exist in Uganda. The investment opportunities are in the following areas among others;
- Design, construction, sales and service support of biomass plants
- Assembly and marketing of solar units in Uganda
- Manufacture and marketing of charcoal briquettes
- Acquisition, installation and services of micro hydro dams in Uganda
The information under energy sector is organized as follows;