Uganda recently hosted a four-day multi-stakeholder mission focused on developing a robust regulatory framework for renewable energy auctions. Led by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) with technical support from GET.transform, the initiative aims to support Uganda’s clean energy transition and contribute to the goals outlined in Vision 2040.
Government institutions, utilities, financiers, private developers, and development partners came together for a series of targeted meetings to explore the design and viability of an auction system tailored to Uganda’s needs.
Drawing on previous experiences with clean energy projects particularly through the successful GETFiT and REFiT programmes, the new framework is intended to be transparent, competitive, and aligned with national energy priorities. It also aims to be inclusive, enabling a variety of renewable technologies to take part, while encouraging greater participation from the private sector through a fair and structured process. In the long term, this approach is expected to help reduce generation costs and make electricity more affordable for consumers.
Discussions also highlighted key challenges including land acquisition, grid readiness, and the evolving energy market. Addressing these issues will be important to ensure the framework is effective and able to attract the necessary investment.
ERA will now continue refining the auction framework with ongoing support from GET.transform. The focus will be on building institutional capacity, managing risks, and ensuring coordination among all actors. In the end, this will create favourable conditions for investment and contribute to a more sustainable and reliable energy system for Uganda.
