Key Substation Upgrade Brings Hope for Stable Kampala Electricity Supply

The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited -UEDCL has completed a major upgrade of the Kampala South Substation, raising its capacity from 20 megawatts to 34MW in a move aimed at easing capacity constraints and improving power reliability across parts of Kampala and Entebbe Road.

The upgrade, commissioned this month, involved the installation of a new 10/14MVA, 33/11kV power transformer under UEDCL’s system optimisation and grid enhancement programme, which the utility rolled out following its assumption of national electricity distribution operations in April 2025.

According to UEDCL, electricity demand at the substation had outstripped available capacity, peaking at 20.45MW against the rated limit of the original 15/20MW transformer. This strain left six major feeders, Salama, Najjanankumbi, Kigo, Makindye, Kisuubi and Kabowa, dependent on a single coupler, heightening the risk of outages.

The completed upgrade is expected to stabilise supply for about 650 commercial consumers and more than 108,000 domestic customers supplied by the substation.

“We will see improved supply reliability and the introduction of transformer redundancy in the event of failure or maintenance of either transformer,” said UEDCL Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa. 

“The Salama and Najjanankumbi feeders are already loaded onto the newly installed transformer, creating better load distribution and operational flexibility. I can state with authority that the substation can now handle both current and future demand because the risk of overload has been eliminated.”

The Kampala South upgrade is part of a broader reinforcement drive under UEDCL’s new mandate. In the first eight months, the company has expanded capacity at several substations, including Kakiri (from 14MVA to 28MVA), Kabale (2.5MVA to 5MVA), Masaka (5MVA to 7MVA), Kumi (1.5MVA to 2.5MVA) and Mubende (2.5MVA to 5MVA).

To keep pace with rising urban demand, UEDCL has also secured land in Kampala for two new substations, alongside another planned facility at Magigye along Zirobwe Road. Downstream network upgrades are being planned for key feeders, including Mutundwe–Mityana, Mutundwe–Nakawuka, Budo, and the Waligo–Namugongo interconnection.

Once completed, these investments are expected to significantly strengthen Kampala’s electricity supply ahead of 2026.

Mwesigwa also acknowledged public cooperation under the government-backed electricity regularisation drive. “I would like to thank electricity users who responded to our ‘Weterezeeee’ campaign,” he said. “So far, 32,461 Ugandans have come forward and will receive connections under the Government of Uganda’s free electricity connections programme.”

However, he cautioned that vandalism remains a serious threat to grid stability. “Since April 1, 2025, we have recorded 330 vandalism incidents nationwide, all of which have negatively affected reliability. We urge the public to remain vigilant and protect electricity infrastructure.”

UEDCL’s ongoing upgrades align with national energy policy goals of expanding access, improving reliability and supporting economic growth through a more resilient power distribution network.