Uganda’s electricity consumption was very low in 2022, at just 122 kWh per person—about 3% of the global average of 3,794 kWh, or roughly one-thirtieth as much. Its electricity supply was overwhelmingly low-carbon: clean generation totaled 5.6 TWh, including about 5 TWh from hydropower, which provided almost nine-tenths of low-carbon generation. Low-carbon electricity amounted to 118 kWh per person, close to 97% of total consumption, leaving only a small share outside that category; the figures do not separately identify fossil-fuel generation. Such limited electricity availability can constrain healthcare, education, industrial development and access to reliable digital services, underscoring the need for substantially more clean electricity.

Is Electricity Growing in Uganda?

Electricity consumption per person is growing in Uganda. In 2022, it reached a new record of 122 kWh, up 7 kWh—or about 6%—from the previous record of 115 kWh in 2021. Low-carbon generation per person also reached a new high of 118 kWh, increasing by 6 kWh, or about 5%, from 112 kWh in 2021. These are encouraging gains, although much faster, sustained expansion is needed to narrow the enormous gap with global electricity availability and support growing demand from electrification, industry and digital infrastructure.

Suggestions

Uganda can build on its hydropower foundation by expanding solar electricity and preparing for nuclear generation as part of a larger clean electricity system. South Africa is a particularly relevant African example: the supplied comparison figures show about 20 TWh of solar electricity and 12 TWh of nuclear electricity, demonstrating that both technologies can contribute within the same regional setting. Uganda could also study solar deployment in India and Pakistan, which generate about 205 TWh and 41 TWh respectively, for approaches to serving large and growing electricity needs. For nuclear development, France, with about 376 TWh, offers experience in operating a substantial clean electricity fleet. Practical priorities include competitive solar procurement, stronger transmission and distribution networks, workforce development, and the institutions and international partnerships needed for a nuclear program. These comparison figures illustrate generation scale, rather than targets Uganda should copy directly.

History

Uganda’s recorded low-carbon electricity history is dominated by hydropower expansion. Generation increased by 0.2 TWh in 1992, followed by gains totaling 0.5 TWh across the listed years of 2000, 2002 and 2004. The late 2000s were uneven, with changes of −0.7 TWh in 2006, gains of 0.2 TWh in both 2007 and 2008, and −0.2 TWh in 2009. The 2010s brought a much stronger expansion: hydropower rose by 0.9 TWh in 2012 and 0.4 TWh in 2013, followed by further increases totaling 1.1 TWh across the listed years from 2015 to 2019. Biofuel electricity showed small changes of around 0.1 TWh: increases in 2015 and 2021 and a decrease in 2017. More recently, hydropower added 0.6 TWh in 2021 and another 0.3 TWh in 2022, continuing the welcome growth of Uganda’s clean electricity supply.

Electricity Imports and Exports

Balance of Trade