KEY POINTS
- Greater Kampala will lose power daily for three weeks starting May 14, UEDCL confirms.
- UETCL upgrades the Lugogo-Kampala North 132kV line to boost power supply reliability in Kampala.
- Power cuts run 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, hitting dozens of Kampala neighborhoods.
Electricity consumers in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area are bracing for nearly three weeks of scheduled daytime power cuts. The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) confirmed the disruptions in a public notice Wednesday, linking them to transmission line maintenance by its upstream supplier.
Planned outages run from May 14 to June 2, 2026, across residential, commercial and industrial zones in the capital. The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) is carrying out the line works. Power cuts will fall between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. on affected dates, with timing varying by location.
What’s behind the shutdowns
The maintenance falls under the Kampala Metropolitan Transmission System Improvement Project, a government-backed infrastructure initiative aimed at raising power reliability across the capital. UETCL needs the Lugogo-Kampala North 132kV line taken offline to safely execute the upgrade.
The 132kV line is a key artery in Kampala’s electricity network. Running live current through it during the works would pose safety risks for engineers on site. The project aims to address longstanding reliability concerns in one of Uganda’s busiest urban power corridors.
UEDCL did not disclose project costs or funding sources in its notice. The company said the works are expected to significantly improve power supply reliability across affected zones upon completion. Uganda has stepped up grid investment in recent years, with government agencies and development partners pushing to expand generation capacity and strengthen national infrastructure.
Who gets affected and when
The outages roll out in phases. Between May 14 and May 23, affected areas include Kamwokya Trading Centre, Old Kira Road and Mawanda Road. Acacia Avenue, Kisementi, parts of Bukoto, Mulimira Zone, Kifumbira and Tufnell Drive are also on the list.
From May 24 to June 2, cuts shift to Lugogo Mall, China-Uganda Hospital and Lugogo-Balikuddembe Road. Bukoto Crescent, parts of Naguru and the Lugogo-Naguru bypass are also affected.
On select dates within the same window, Kireka, Mbalwa, Kyambogo, Kirinya, Bukasa, Kireku, Namugongo Road, Naalya and nearby neighborhoods will face additional interruptions. Lower Kyambogo Estate, Nabisunsa, Namboole, Bweyogerere Trading Centre, Banda, Kinawataka and parts of the Namamve Industrial Park are also slated for cuts.
The UEDCL notice arrives as Uganda presses ahead with multiple grid upgrades nationally. Development partners and government bodies have backed several transmission projects in recent years.
UEDCL urged customers to plan accordingly during the outage window. Consumers whose power is not restored within scheduled timelines were directed to the company’s toll-free helplines.
