The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has dismissed the Board Chairperson of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Lydia Ochieng-Obbo, and placed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Paul Mwesigwa on forced leave following a government review into the company’s operations.
Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa indicated that the decision stems from a management and performance assessment, with the measures intended to pave the way for a comprehensive review of the company’s leadership and operational efficiency.
The shake-up comes amid growing concerns over UEDCL’s performance since it assumed electricity distribution responsibilities in 2025, a transition that has faced challenges including power outages, ageing infrastructure, and rising system losses.
Sources within the sector suggest that electricity losses have increased significantly since the takeover, raising concerns within government about efficiency, revenue protection, and overall system management.
As part of interim arrangements, new leadership has been appointed to steer the company, including a replacement Board Chairperson and an acting Managing Director to oversee day-to-day operations during the transition period.
The Ministry emphasized that the changes are part of routine governance and oversight measures aimed at improving accountability, strengthening institutional performance, and ensuring reliable electricity service delivery across the country.
Despite the leadership shake-up, authorities have assured the public that electricity distribution services will continue uninterrupted as restructuring efforts and internal reviews proceed.
The developments mark one of the most significant interventions in Uganda’s power distribution sector since the government resumed control of the grid, underscoring mounting pressure to stabilize and improve performance in a critical national utility.
