President Museveni Backs Bid by Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) to Host the Independent Regulatory Board.
The mantle of securing the future of Uganda is so great a task for one to play bets on. It is not a gamble. It is a matter which requires lifelong commitment, unending sacrifice and vast experience. NRM is the only political organization that can be trusted with the sacred responsibility of securing Uganda’s future. We are committed to ensure availability of reliable energy supply because it is critically important for economic growth, poverty reduction, and the social and cultural transformation of society-President Museveni stated while addressing the Wealth Creation Conference in Masaka at the Masaka Liberation Square.
Because of our commitment to reform the electricity sector and provide clean and affordable electricity, the Cabinet of Uganda sat on 8th may 2023 and approved the hosting of the Headquarters of the Independent Regulatory Board- Mr Museveni told the crowd.
The Uganda Cabinet approved hosting the headquarters of the Independent Regulatory Board (IRB) of the East African Power Pool (EAPP) and granted it diplomatic status. The EAPP’s General Secretariat is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a mandate to coordinate the development and functioning /operation of the power pool.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) will host the IRB at its premises located at Plot 15, Shimoni Road Nakasero, known as the Consumer Protection and Installation Permits Center.
IRB is an organ of EAPP, a regional institution established in 2005 to coordinate cross-border power trade and grid interconnection among nations of the Eastern Africa region. This power trade will enable proper and effective utilization of the region’s energy resources for the benefit of the respective citizens. IRB’s mandate is to provide fair and effective regulatory services to facilitate the development and efficient operation of the regional electricity market in Eastern Africa and ensure a conducive environment for regional infrastructure investments.
The EAPP currently has eleven (11) member countries that signed the Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding (IGMOU) and fourteen utilities that signed the Inter-Utility Memorandum of Understanding (IUMOU).
The pool comprises the following countries: Burundi, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Libya. South Sudan and Somalia joined recently, and there is a possibility that Eritrea may join.
The current member utilities are REGIDESO of Burundi, SNEL of DRC, EEHC of Egypt, EEP of Ethiopia, GECOL of Libya, KenGen of Kenya, KPLC of Kenya, KETRA[1]CO of Kenya, REG of Rwanda, SETCO of Sudan, SINELAC of DRC – Rwanda – Burundi, TANESCO of Tanzania, UETCL of Uganda, EDD of Djibouti and the newly joined SSEC of South Sudan and Electricity utilities of Somalia.
Hosting the IRB Secretariat, among other benefits, provides Uganda with greater influence in the region and enables it to steer the agenda of the Body and take a lead role in developing the regional power pool.
For small scale industries to grow and big factories to grow bigger, we need affordable, constant and clean electricity supply –Sarah Kiyimba Resident District Commissioner for Rakai District told young entrepreneurs in Masaka on the sidelines of the Presidential Wealth Creation Tour held in Masaka City.
