Country snapshot · East Africa
Uganda
Solar added each year
Ember estimates of all solar (utility-scale, distributed and off-grid), MW. 2026 is Ember’s full-year estimate.
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| Year | MW | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 46.0 | Ember estimate |
| 2024 | 60.3 | Ember estimate |
| 2025 | 55.9 | Ember estimate |
| 2026E | 76.0 | Ember estimate, full year |
0.4% of Africa’s estimated 2026 solar additions (76.0 of 17,449.4 MW).1
Who has electricity
Share of people with access to electricity, 2024: rural and urban.
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| Area | Access | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rural | 44.8% | 2024 |
| Urban | 78.3% | 2024 |
| National | 55.3% | 2024 |
World Bank WDI, 2024.2
How reliable is the grid for business?
Firms experiencing electrical outages (2025 survey), compared with Sub-Saharan Africa and the world.3,4N5
79.9% (2025 survey) · Sub-Saharan Africa 72.4% · World 47.5% (2025)
The rules for small-scale generationN1,N6
Export rules: Partial
- Regulator
- Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA)
- Main utility
- UETCL (transmission); UEDCL (distribution since Apr 2025)
Export rulesSources conflict. A net-metering regulation was reported as introduced in Jul 2024 and a 3-site pilot exists; in-force status not verified. An aggregator reports draft guidelines were still at workshop stage in Aug 2025 (low confidence).5–8Low confidenceShow detail
Sources conflict. (1) GIZ PDP guide (c.2023/24) says there are no net-metering regulations, but a footnote says ERA introduced a net-metering regulation on 31 Jul 2024. (2) The Ministry of Energy page (undated, c. Aug 2023) describes a net-metering pilot at 3 sites, with regulations still to be made. (3) SurgePV (aggregator) names "Electricity (Net Metering) Regulations 2024" with draft guidelines at an Aug 2025 workshop. Another SurgePV page instead cites "Regulations 2016". In-force status is unverified.
How exports are creditedReported as bill credits with no cash payment (single secondary source; low confidence).6–8Low confidenceShow detail
SurgePV only: credits offset future bills, with no cash payment for surplus. Not confirmed in primary sources.
Size limits and licensingGeneration licence at ≥0.5 MW; smaller projects register with ERA. Isolated grids up to 2 MW may get an exemption.6–8High confidenceShow detail
Generation licence required at ≥0.5 MW. Projects <0.5 MW are registered with ERA. Isolated grids up to 2 MW can get an exemption certificate. SurgePV gives net-metering caps of 500 kW (one page) and 1 MW (another), which conflict.
Mini-grid rulesElectricity (Isolated Grid Systems) Regulations, 2020.9High confidenceShow detail
Electricity (Isolated Grid Systems) Regulations, 2020
Market access beyond the utilityBulk supply to eligible consumers (≥1,500 kVA) for up to 30% of energy, with a wheeling agreement (2022 regulations).9High confidenceShow detail
Electricity (Supply of Electricity in Bulk to Specified Consumers) Regulations, 2022: eligible consumers need ≥1,500 kVA average demand and may buy up to 30% of their energy from an eligible seller. A wheeling and interconnection agreement is required.
Aggregation / VPP rulesNone foundShow detail
None found
“None found” means we could not locate a rule in public sources reviewed to 10 October 2026, not that one cannot exist.
Recent developments
Dated developments, 2024–2026.
The full report
This is a snapshot. The full story is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
The full analysis, with 17 exhibits on the boom, the data gap, the economics and the four building blocks, is in Africa’s Invisible Grid.
