Electricity Costs Cut on Buggala Island as New Tariffs Take Effect
Power tariffs on Buggala Island in Kalangala District have been reduced following a community hearing, with domestic and commercial consumers seeing significant rate cuts. The changes, effective October 2, 2024, address long-standing concerns about high costs.
Courtesy photo
Effective October 2, 2024, power tariffs on Buggala Island in Kalangala District have been reduced by UGX 275 for domestic consumers and UGX 673.4 for commercial consumers.
These adjustments follow a community hearing held at the Kalangala District headquarters last month, where residents expressed concerns to the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) regarding the high electricity costs, despite the use of solar power from the Bukuzindu hybrid plant.
Under the newly revised tariffs allocated to Kalangala Infrastructure Services Ltd (KIS), which is responsible for distributing and supplying electricity on the island, the cost per domestic unit has decreased from UGX 1,269.5 to UGX 994.5, while the cost per commercial unit has dropped from UGX 1,631.8 to UGX 673.4.
Further adjustments include new rates for medium industries (consuming 415 volts-500KVA) at UGX 673.4 per unit. Large industries (using 11,000-33,000 volts) with maximum demand exceeding 500KVA will now pay UGX 502.8 per unit during peak hours and UGX 252.5 during off-peak hours.
For years, residents of Buggala Island have raised concerns over the high cost of electricity. Henry Bbaale, a resident of Kizzi village in Kalangala Town Council, shared his optimism with New Vision Online, stating, “With these lowered tariffs, we are hopeful that electricity will increasingly be used for cooking, reducing reliance on timber and mitigating environmental degradation caused by the high demand for firewood and charcoal.”
Justine Nalwanga, a local business owner, expressed her expectation of reduced costs, noting that she had been spending UGX 5,000 to meet the needs of her clients. However, she highlighted ongoing concerns about frequent power outages on the island.
In response to these concerns, Kalangala District Chairperson, Mr. Rajab Ssemakula, pledged to identify land for the construction of an industrial park. This initiative aims to increase employment opportunities for the youth across the islands and enhance the district’s revenue base.
KIS spokesperson, Joseph Mulindwa, encouraged investors to consider setting up factories in Kalangala, remarking that, “Power is now affordable, and the new tariffs provide favorable conditions for investment.”
