MPs Fault Delays in World Bank-Funded Electricity Project, Demand Accountability

What the report says

Parliament in Uganda has pressed the Energy Ministry over slow progress in the $608 million World Bank-funded Electricity Access Scale-up Project, asking for a detailed status report next week. The project is meant to expand electricity access for households, refugees, industrial parks, businesses and public institutions across the country, but lawmakers said implementation has not matched the scale of the funding.

During a sitting on Tuesday, State Minister for Energy Sidronius Okaasai Opolot told MPs that delays were affecting the rollout of new connections under the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited. He said some local suppliers had not delivered contracted materials on time, while funding gaps for compensating Project Affected Persons had slowed the acquisition of wayleaves needed for distribution lines.

Okaasai said the Ministry of Finance had released Shs18 billion of the Shs40 billion required for compensation. MPs remained unconvinced, arguing that many communities still have no electricity even where poles have already been installed. They said the delays risk weakening efforts to support industrialisation, education, health services and local business growth.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa directed the ministry to return with specific figures on connections made, locations covered, costs and remaining challenges. Parliament is expected to revisit the issue after receiving the report, which is to help clarify how the project is being implemented and what is slowing delivery.