EU, France Fund Uganda’s Rural Electrification

March 19, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

Key Figures & Findings: The European Union (EU), the French Development Agency (AFD), and Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development have signed a UGX 40 billion ($10.9 million) grant agreement to support large-scale rural electrification. This funding, part of the Last Mile Electrification Support Project, aims to expand Uganda's electricity grid and improve power access in rural areas. Uganda’s Minister of Energy, Ruth Nankabirwa, emphasized that this initiative will play a crucial role in closing the country’s energy gap, ensuring that more communities benefit from reliable electricity.

Statistics & Insights: The project targets 40,000 new last-mile connections across 34 districts and two Lake Victoria islands—Koome and Bugaya. Currently, Uganda’s electricity access rate stands at 57%, but rural areas remain underserved with only 19% connectivity. The initiative will extend grid infrastructure and support standalone solar solutions for off-grid communities.

Future Implications: If successfully implemented, this project could significantly improve rural electrification by 2027, boosting productivity, healthcare, and education in remote areas. The partnership may also create opportunities for further investments in Uganda’s renewable energy sector.