On 2 November, Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD) hosted a mini-grid side event during the Power Forum of Uganda’s Energy Week. The sector exchange was organised in partnership with the EU Delegation to Uganda, GIZ and GET.transform.
Intensified collaboration and concerted efforts are required across Uganda’s mini-grid sector to fast-track the objectives of the National Electrification Strategy (NES) which envisages 10 million connections by 2030 and aims to attain 230,000 thereof through mini-grids.
Attended by 128 stakeholders, the event brought together key perspectives from government, development partners, CSOs, and the private sector. Power Forum speakers included:
- Abdon Atwine, Assistant Commissioner, Electrical Power Department, MEMD
- Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, CEO, Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA)
- Harold Obiga, Director Legal Services, Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA)
- Alex Wanume, Country Director, Winch Energy Ltd.
- Milton Edimu, Project Coordinator GET.Access, KfW
- Sumaya Mohamed, Coordinator, Power for All
- David Otieno, Cluster Coordinator and Programme Director, GIZ Uganda
The panellists agreed that mini-grids play a critical role in realising Uganda’s electricity access targets. Yet making them financially viable while maintaining acceptable tariffs was still seen as a challenge. In this context, reference was made to the need for new Productive Use (PUE) approaches and the recent GET.transform study which analysed the shifting PUE landscape.
Answering to the hope of sped up regulatory processes, Eng. Abdon Atwine of the MEMD reported that a policy revision is already underway to ensure an improved bankability of mini-grid contracts.
The event allowed for valuable links among the sector players and the exchange on lessons learnt is set to reinvigorate joint approaches in mini-grid development.
