By Sadique Bamwita
Kampala
A total of over 50 journalists have been trained and equipped with the knowledge on the Electricity Supply Industry and the role played by the Electricity Regulatory Authority(ERA).
During the one day training workshop , journalists were taken through various topics including vandalism of electric poles and wires, consumer protection, illegal connections and electricity pricing among other things.
The manager technical services at ERA, Eng. Peter Kakeeto, emphasized the need for electrical safety including proper insulation, grounding, use of certified equipment, and adherence to safety standards. He added that the unsafe electricity usage can lead to severe injuries, fatalities and property damage.
Eng. Kakeeto noted that ERA plays various roles including licensing sector players, setting and enforcing safety standards in addition to compliance and accountability.
He implored the media to report accurately on electricity matters through using verified information on top of sensitizing the general public on Laws regarding the Electricity Act.
The principal Legal Officer at the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) Counsel Charlotte Kyohairwe revealed that vandalism is a growing concern across the country saying this vice happens in various forms including theft of transformer oil, cutting and stealing conductors , destruction of Electrical poles, meter bypassing and tampering plus illegal connections. She , however said that these forms of vandalism have negative effects which include; power outage and unreliable power supply , increased cost of electricity, damage to equipment, delays in service delivery and above all , reduced investor confidence.
Counsel Kyohairwe said besides vandalism, there is also a huge challenge of illegal connections which has resulted into fire hazards . On this note, she noted that there is a legal framework Cap 157 which penalizes illegal power consumers and if anyone is found guilty he/she pays a fine of Shs.1 billion or face a 12 year Jail sentence.
Facts about ERA.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) is a statutory body in Uganda established in 2000 to regulate the generation , transmission, distribution, sale , import and export of electricity. It ensures a sustainable electricity industry, sets tariffs, issues licenses, and protects consumer interests. ERA operates under the Electricity Act (amended 2022).
Key Aspects of ERA (Uganda):
- Mandate: Formed under the Electricity Act, it supervises the industry and regulates electrical installation work.
- Key Functions:
- Licensing: Issues, modifies, and enforces licenses for electricity companies.
- Tariffs: Establishes and approves electricity tariff structures to ensure fair pricing.
- Compliance: Ensures licensees adhere to terms and quality standards.
- Consumer Protection: Protects consumer interests and handles complaints.
- Recent Developments:
- Direct Purchase: As of February 2025, allows high-demand manufacturers ($\ge$1,500kVA) to buy power directly from generators.
- Asset Handover: Oversaw the transition of electricity distribution assets to UEDCL.
- Leadership: Eng. Grania Rosette Rubomboras was appointed Chairperson in October 2025. While Eng. Ziria Waako is the Chief Executive Officer of ERA.
ERA operates regional offices to manage technical inspections, such as in Gulu and Mbarara (Western region).
