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By Spy Uganda
Government has dismissed the board chairperson of the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited and sent its Managing Director on forced leave, in a move aimed at reviewing the utility’s management and performance.
The Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, announced on Saturday that Board Chairperson Lydia Ochieng Obbo had been relieved of her duties, while Managing Director Paul Mwesigye had been asked to step aside to pave way for a comprehensive assessment of the company’s operations.
“The Government has undertaken a review of the management at UEDCL. In this regard, the services of the Chairperson of the Board have been terminated, and the Managing Director has been placed on forced leave to allow for a comprehensive review,” Nankabirwa said in a statement.
The Ministry said interim leadership has been put in place to ensure continuity of operations. A new acting board chairperson has been appointed, and the board is expected to name an Acting Managing Director to oversee day-to-day operations during the transition.
Sources indicated that Stella-Marie Biwaga Cingtho, a lawyer and Advocate of the High Court with over 16 years of experience in governance and the oil and gas sector, has been appointed interim board chairperson.
Nankabirwa emphasised that the changes are part of routine governance and oversight measures aimed at strengthening accountability and improving service delivery within the energy sector. She assured the public that electricity supply would not be disrupted during the transition period.
“The public and all stakeholders are assured that electricity distribution services will continue uninterrupted,” she said.
The shake-up follows months of scrutiny over UEDCL’s performance after it took over electricity distribution from Umeme Limited in April 2025, ending a 20-year concession.
According to the minister, an assessment by the Electricity Regulatory Authority identified major operational and managerial gaps at the company. These include frequent power outages, voltage instability, delays in restoring supply, and slow processing of new electricity connections.
The report also cited procurement inefficiencies that have delayed critical maintenance works, as well as weaknesses in human resource management that have affected staff performance and customer responsiveness.
Nankabirwa said her ministry had earlier directed the UEDCL board to investigate the issues and develop a comprehensive action plan to address the shortcomings. The current leadership changes are part of efforts to facilitate that process.
The developments come against a backdrop of earlier tensions within government. In December 2025, Nankabirwa declined a directive from Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to halt ongoing investigations into UEDCL’s senior management, insisting the probe was necessary to address systemic challenges in the sector.
Meanwhile, sources within the company point to growing internal pressure linked to the lucrative electricity distribution business, with claims that competing interests are pushing for the introduction of a private investor under a public-private partnership arrangement.
Recent internal communications from UEDCL management suggested the company may not be able to effectively manage the entire distribution network alone, raising the possibility of bringing in external partners.
While the Ministry has not officially confirmed plans for a private investor, the unfolding developments highlight mounting scrutiny over the management of Uganda’s electricity distribution system following the transition from private to state control.
The government maintains that the ongoing review is intended to strengthen the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of electricity supply across the country.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/storm-hits-uedcl-board-chair-sacked-managing-director-sent-on-forced-leave/
