Uganda should measure its energy transition not only by the number of electricity connections made, but also by whether access to energy is improving people’s lives, energy and climate experts have said.
The experts made the call during a media engagement at Makerere organised by Uganda’s Little Hands Go Green (ULHGG) under the REPower Uganda. For starters, REPower Uganda was launched in Kampala in April, 2026. It brought together the Ministry of Energy, private sector innovators, civil society organisations and youth advocates to accelerate Uganda’s transition to clean energy. The initiative aims to make energy planning more inclusive and locally driven, focusing on four strategic areas: sector integration, gap analysis, alliance building and developing a tactical roadmap to address barriers to clean energy access and promote sustainable energy solutions for Ugandans.
The engagement brought together journalists and energy stakeholders to discuss decentralised renewable energy (DRE), energy access and climate change, with a focus on improving how the media reports on Uganda’s energy transition.
Anthony Wolimbwa National Coordinator Climate Action Network Uganda, said decentralised renewable energy could help extend access to communities that are difficult or expensive to connect to the national grid.
DRE solutions include solar home systems, solar mini-grids, battery storage and solar-powered water pumps. They can provide electricity to households, schools, health facilities, farmers and small businesses, particularly in underserved areas.
Wolimbwa noted that renewable energy can also help communities respond to climate-related challenges. Solar-powered irrigation, for example, can support farmers affected by changing rainfall patterns, while solar refrigeration can help preserve food and medicines.
However, the experts said installing renewable energy equipment does not automatically mean a community has gained meaningful access to energy.
They urged journalists to examine whether people can afford the service, whether systems operate reliably, how they are maintained and whether spare parts and skilled technicians are available when equipment breaks down.
Emmy Kabishanga, a civil society and climate change expert, said reliable and affordable energy can have a direct impact on education, healthcare, agriculture and businesses.
She encouraged journalists to look beyond official figures and investigate whether electricity is actually improving household incomes, helping children study, supporting health services and enabling businesses to operate more effectively.
Miss Hanna Rhoda Nabayunga, a youth and gender climate change activist, called for women, children, young people and vulnerable communities to be included in energy planning and to benefit from the country’s energy transition.
Media consultant Eddie Semugenyi urged journalists to scrutinise claims made about energy projects and establish whether promised benefits are being achieved.
He said a report on a solar irrigation project, for example, should examine how many farmers are using it, how much land is being irrigated, the cost to users and whether agricultural production has improved.
The experts also cautioned journalists against assuming that every renewable energy project automatically delivers climate benefits. They said such claims should be supported by evidence.
The engagement promoted ULHGG’s “Different Eyes, Different Ears” approach, which encourages journalists to seek perspectives from energy users, examine project data and costs, and investigate who benefits and who may be left out.
The experts said stronger reporting on energy could help Ugandans better understand the country’s energy transition and hold project developers and decision-makers accountable.
