The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) was incorporated as a limited company on March 26, 2001, in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, as amended, and the Public Enterprise Reform and Divestiture Act. The establishment of UETCL was part of the restructuring of Uganda’s electricity sector, which included the unbundling of the Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) into successor companies and the creation of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), as provided for in the Electricity Act, Cap 145.
UETCL’s primary mandate is to develop, operate, and maintain Uganda’s high-voltage transmission grid. As the country’s sole bulk power buyer, UETCL is authorized to negotiate agreements for the sale, purchase, import, and export of electricity. The company works closely with power generators and distribution companies to ensure a stable and efficient supply of electricity nationwide.
It provides several services, including optic fiber connectivity and specialized training through the Njeru Training Institute, which was established in 1955 in Jinja. The institute offers courses in overhead line training, cable jointing, safety, firefighting, and operational skills to support the electricity sector’s workforce.
UETCL is continuously working to expand Uganda’s national transmission grid in line with the National Development Plan and Vision 2040. Its projects aim to strengthen the electricity transmission infrastructure across the country, ensuring efficient energy delivery to various regions. Recent projects include the commissioning of the Gulu-Agago 132kV transmission line in 2024 and the Namanve South-Luzira 132kV transmission line in 2023. The Mukono Industrial Park substation and related transmission line were completed in 2019.
Ongoing projects include the Masaka-Mbarara 400kV transmission line, which covers 135 kilometers and is currently in the procurement stage, and the Kampala Metropolitan Transmission System Improvement Project, which is in the design review phase. Additionally, construction on the 34.7km Tororo-Mbale section of the Tororo-Opuyo-Lira transmission line is set to begin, with the contractor already in place.
Despite these developments, UETCL faces significant challenges, including quality control issues related to health and safety, construction non-conformities, inaccurate concrete mixtures, and theft at project sites, which complicate the company’s operations and project implementation.