Residents, businesses and public institutions in Butebo District are set to benefit from improved electricity supply following the commissioning of power distribution projects worth more than Shs240 million.
The projects, implemented by the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), include the extension of the electricity distribution network to Petete Primary School and surrounding areas, as well as the installation of a 100kVA transformer to support a mini-industrial park in Kabarekere Village.
At Petete Primary School, UEDCL extended the distribution network to connect the school to the national grid after it had been fully wired but remained without electricity.
The extension will also supply power to Petete Church, nearby households and the Petete Town Council offices. A new transformer was installed as part of the project.
In Kabarekere Village, near St Paul High School, UEDCL installed a 100kVA transformer to support a mini-industrial park that is under construction.
Before the intervention, the site relied on a 25kVA single-phase transformer located about 600 metres away. The existing transformer was considered inadequate for the industrial park, whose projected electricity demand is about 48kW.
UEDCL managing director Eng Joselynne Rwabwogo said the new infrastructure was intended to support the growing commercial and agro-processing activities in the area.
“With growing commercial activity and agro-processing in the area, we anticipate increased electricity demand. We have therefore installed a new 100kVA transformer to provide the capacity needed to support industrial and agro-processing activities,” Rwabwogo said.
The projects were commissioned over the weekend by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja during a thanksgiving ceremony held in Petete in honour of Energy Minister Dr Monica Musenero.
Rwabwogo said the interventions form part of UEDCL’s broader efforts to address electricity supply challenges and improve service delivery across the country.
She said the company has also embarked on a nationwide stakeholder engagement programme to strengthen cooperation with local leaders, address customer complaints and obtain feedback on electricity distribution services.
“Despite the challenges posed by frequent power outages, UEDCL is committed to implementing both immediate and long-term infrastructure improvements to address network constraints and meet the increasing electricity demand,” Rwabwogo said.
“These interventions reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the electricity distribution network, improving reliability and delivering better quality power to customers across the country.”
The new infrastructure is expected to improve electricity access for households and public institutions while providing additional capacity for businesses and agro-processing activities in Butebo.
The projects come at a time when reliable electricity supply remains critical to local economic activity, particularly for small businesses, schools and emerging industrial enterprises.
