December 18, 2023 11:23 am
By Jonan Kiiza
Under the auspices of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), this year’s energy week conference and exhibition will remain phenomenal because of the mass attendance by both local and intentional participants, juxtaposed with the richness of content exuded to the publics.
The energy week and forum; renewable energy expo and conference; were officially graced and opened at Speke Resort Munyonyo by the Honourable Dr. Ruth Nankabirwa Sentamu – Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, well accompanied by her technical team led by Ms. Irene Batebe the Permanent Secretary.
The electricity supply industry (ESI), that is, Uganda Electricity Generation Company Limited (UEGCL), Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), and Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), were fully represented on the different panel discussions at the expo and conference.
The UEDCL team was led by Paul Mwesigwa, MD, in cohorts with his engineering and corporate affairs teams. Mr. Mwesigwa presented on the need for digitalization of services in the distribution space. He emphasized that the future of the segment lies in how GoU will cultivate the available digital spaces to improve service delivery. Contextually driving his point home, he used the UEDCL case study, where he pointed out that all internal systems are digitally driven. He underscored that the current distribution grid operated by UEDCL can now be monitored and operated remotely through the SCADA control center.
Mr. Mwesigwa highlighted that despite UEDCL serving in rural areas, the company is also making profits and is 100% self-sustaining. In addition, he also pointed out that the biggest geographical space in Uganda is currently being served by UEDCL, precisely, 86 political districts.
The renewable energy expo and conference were organized by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD). The chief organizer, Dr. Brian Isabirye, commissioner of renewable energy in MEMD, also doubles as a UEDCL board member. He thanked UEDCL team for its attendance in both the panel discussion and exhibition. He was joined by the other two fellow board members, namely Ms. Elizabeth Kasenene Rumanyika and Mr. Kayondho Steven Kalanguka. The board members toured the UEDCL stall and thanked the team for representing and selling the company’s businesses.
The UEDCL stall was graced by the visit of Hon. Peter Lokeris, Minister for Minerals, and Ms. Irene Batebe, PS – Ministry of Energy & Mineral Development. At the UEDCL exhibition point, UEDCL’s Jonan Kiiza -Senior PRO appraised them on a number of schemes rolled out by the company plus its operational coverage.
UEDCL is the national electricity distributor, 100% owned by the government of Uganda. It operates in over 86 political districts, mostly rural areas. In the past two decades, the company has taken over the operations of three failed concessions, including Ferdisult Engineering Services Limited, Bundibugyo Energy Cooperative Society, and Pader Abim Cooperative Multipurpose Electric Society.
