By The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has called upon the government to subsidize electricity costs, making it affordable for all citizens.
This appeal was made during a media briefing at party headquarters at Uganda House on Wednesday 2nd April following a government takeover of the distribution of electricity from UMEME Limited to the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).
“We welcome the government’s decision to take over the distribution of electricity, but we urge them to go a step further and subsidize the costs to make it affordable for all citizens,” said Arach Oyat Sharon, UPC spokesperson.
Under the new pricing, domestic consumers who qualify for the lifeline tariff—those using up to 100 units—will pay Shs250 per unit. Other domestic consumers exceeding this threshold will pay a cost-reflective tariff of Shs756.2 per unit.
For commercial users, the tariff is set at Shs546.4 per unit, while medium industrial consumers will pay Shs355.1 per unit. Large-scale manufacturing industries will be charged Shs412.5 per unit.
Additionally, Large industrial customers will see a two-block tariff structure, block One will be charged Shs300.4 per unit whereas block Two, which benefits from a declining block tariff, will pay Shs282.9 per unit. For other large consumers, the tariff will be Shs348.7 per unit.
Arach emphasized that affordable electricity is crucial for protecting the environment and tackling climate change.
“This is one of the best ways of protecting our environment as we try to tackle the challenges of climate change,” she said.
The UPC also criticized the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government for adopting a private economic model, which led to the dismantling and sale of key public corporations. Arach noted that this move had negative consequences for the country’s development, particularly in the agricultural sector.
“The demise of specialized marketing boards and the removal of subsidies for key agricultural inputs have forced our farmers out of business,” Sharon said. “We need to act as a country and get out of this scenario.”
The UPC spokesperson urged the government to adopt a mixed economic model that prioritizes the welfare of citizens. “This requires boldness, dedication, and imagination,” Arach emphasized.
