By Jumah Kakomo
The National Entrepreneurs and Traders Association of Uganda (NETA-U) has given Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) Acting Managing Director, Engineer Joseline Rwabwogo, a 30-day ultimatum to voluntarily resign, accusing her leadership of failing to address persistent electricity supply challenges affecting businesses and consumers across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the association on Thursday, NETA-U President Thadeus Musoke Nagenda said the organisation had lost confidence in Rwabwogo’s leadership, citing continued concerns about the reliability of electricity supply despite several engagements and assurances that the situation would improve.
Nagenda said Ugandans, particularly members of the business community, had exercised considerable patience while waiting for meaningful improvements in electricity service delivery. However, he argued that persistent power supply challenges raised questions about UEDCL’s ability to fulfil its responsibilities and meet public expectations.
“We believe Ugandans have been patient enough. Despite several engagements and promises, the expected improvements in reliable electricity supply have not been sufficiently realised. Those entrusted with public responsibility must be held accountable for their performance and service delivery,” Nagenda said.
L-R : NETA-U Secretary General Samuel Kyambadde, Legal Officer David Kintu, President Thadeus Musoke Nagenda, PRO Gerald Muhumuza Muwaasi.
He said NETA-U expected Rwabwogo to step down within the 30-day period, warning that failure to do so would compel the association to formally petition the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) to investigate leadership and management concerns at UEDCL.
The association is also demanding a comprehensive audit and independent investigations into the company’s operations to establish the underlying causes of electricity supply challenges and determine whether administrative or management failures have contributed to the situation.
Nagenda further questioned what he described as differences in the speed of the IGG’s intervention in leadership matters involving public institutions.
He cited the Inspectorate’s intervention involving the top management of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), questioning why concerns raised about UEDCL had not attracted what he considered a similarly decisive response.
He maintained that NETA-U would pursue institutional and lawful channels to demand accountability and improvements in electricity service delivery.
Nagenda warned that if the IGG failed to respond adequately to the association’s concerns, NETA-U would organise a broader stakeholders’ engagement involving Ugandans affected by unreliable electricity supply.
The proposed meeting would bring together affected consumers and business operators to discuss the challenges and agree on collective resolutions regarding the next course of action.
He added that if stakeholders resolved to organise peaceful demonstrations, the association would formally notify the Uganda Police Force in accordance with applicable legal requirements and procedures.
“We shall continue with our advocacy role as NETA-U, using lawful and peaceful means to demand accountability, improved service delivery and responsible leadership,” Nagenda said.
Meanwhile, NETA-U spokesperson Gerald Muhumuza Muwaasi challenged the government to explain why Uganda continues to export electricity to neighbouring countries while millions of Ugandans reportedly experience unreliable power supply and others remain without access to electricity.
Muwaasi questioned the country’s electricity export priorities, arguing that domestic consumers should also benefit from the energy resources generated within Uganda.
He described the situation as unfortunate, noting that frequent power interruptions were affecting businesses and exposing operators to financial losses even as Uganda continued supplying electricity to neighbouring countries.
NETA-U Secretary General Samuel Kyambadde said declining electricity supply reliability was affecting business operations, household activities and the country’s wider economic productivity.
He said the association stood with electricity consumers, including households, small-scale enterprises, factories and commercial operators, who continue to experience prolonged power outages.
According to Kyambadde, electricity is an essential service for which consumers pay and, therefore, have a legitimate expectation of reliable supply and accountability whenever service delivery falls below expected standards.
On the legal front, NETA-U Legal Officer David Kintu said the association was prepared to pursue legal action if its concerns were not adequately addressed.
Kintu called on individuals and businesses that had suffered property damage or other losses allegedly linked to electricity-related incidents to submit their complaints alongside supporting evidence.
He said the association was currently receiving petitions through its offices at Yiga Chambers and was working towards establishing an online portal to enable more affected Ugandans to register their complaints.
Kintu explained that NETA-U intended to pursue what it described as representative legal action against UEDCL and individuals it considers responsible, subject to applicable legal procedures.
He said the proposed legal action would seek to bring together affected consumers and pursue appropriate legal remedies for their alleged losses.
The association’s demands come amid growing concerns among sections of the business community over electricity supply reliability, with NETA-U insisting that improved power supply, institutional accountability and responsible leadership are necessary to protect businesses, households and the country’s economic activities.
