Legislators have raised concerns over inequalities in electricity access and government’s failure to deliver on longstanding commitments to expand power supply, warning that the gaps are undermining development and the delivery of essential services across the country.
Debating a statement on rural electrification by the Minister of State for Energy, Hon. Sidronius Okaasai, on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, the members highlighted a range of persistent challenges affecting electricity access and reliability in their constituencies.
Kibanda North County MP Hon. Linos Ngompek challenged the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development over what he described as prolonged delays in compensating Karuma PAPs.
“We cannot talk about rural electrification while ignoring the people who gave up their land for these projects,” Ngompek said.
The Karuma project, whose construction began in December 2013, displaced over 3,000 people, including 280 landowners and 134 tenants.
At the centre of the latest dispute is government’s decision to pursue physical resettlement of vulnerable PAPs at Lapono in Nwoya District, rather than resolving all outstanding claims through cash compensation.
Minister Okaasai, said the resettlement process had progressed too far to be easily reversed.
“The money has been released, and we are taking the project-affected persons to see the land where their houses are going to be constructed,” he said.
He said house designs still require government approval and that an electric fence would be installed to address concerns over wildlife at the proposed resettlement site.
The Minister also said the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources would visit the area and engage the affected communities.
Hon. Jamali Ayagalachi (NUP, Bukooli County North) said 39 parishes have remained without electricity since 1997, questioning why communities in Busoga remain disconnected despite the region’s proximity to major hydropower resources.
Hon. Betty Naluyima (NUP, Wakiso District Woman representative) highlighted the plight of island communities, including health centres without electricity. She also cited that “poles that were delivered to some areas seven years ago that remain unconnected.”
Hon. Eunice Otuko Apio (UPC, Oyam County North) said three transformers directed for her constituency a year earlier had still not materialised.
“This is leaving schools, health centres and sub-county headquarters struggling without reliable electricity,” she said.
Hon. Hilary Lokwang (NRM, Ik County), “I’ve been writing for the last 11 years, requesting for power. I have never captured an eye of the duty bearer.”
He questioned whether the government’s commitment to affirmative action for marginalised communities is meaningful if remote constituencies must depend on political influence to receive basic infrastructure.
He also connected the electricity deficit to Uganda’s broader ambitions in education, healthcare and digital transformation.
“How shall we connect a computer to PowerPoint if you don’t have power in your school. How shall we mix the reagents in the lab[oratory] if you don’t have power?” he asked.
Hon. Benjamin Cadet (NRM, Bunyaruguru County) said more than 11,000 households in his constituency remain off the national grid.
The Minister revealed that seven government-funded rural electrification lots, worth approximately Shs145 billion, are under implementation, with contractors already working in the field.
Additionally, he outlined plans to supply electricity to small and micro enterprises, particularly agricultural enterprises, and additional grid-extension works involving about 35.39 kilometres of medium-voltage lines in western and southern parts of the country.
Another major intervention is the Grid Densification Programme Phase II, supported through a German Government grant via KfW.
He also presented the proposed Uganda Rural Electrification Access Project Phase II, expected to cover 49 districts and approximately 259.7 kilometres of medium-voltage lines.
The project is intended to reach 352 schools; 282 health centres; and 537 small-scale enterprises. The project is expected to be financed by the African Development Bank and will require parliamentary approval.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa queried whether the projects will become infrastructure or simply another list of promises.
“We do not want members to be told that projects are coming, only for them to discover later that there is no money,” he said.
Tayebwa acknowledged the particular challenges faced by the Ik, grouping them with communities such as the Tepeth, Batwa and Banyabindi as among groups facing serious marginalisation.
He urged the Energy Ministry to give the Ik special attention, citing the difficult geographical circumstances in which the community lives-Ug. Parliament-Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
