The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited – UEDCL has launched its UEDCL Light mobile application, a free Android app designed to make electricity services more accessible and convenient for customers across the country.

The release of the app — announced on December 22nd on UEDCL’s official social media channels — marks a major step in UEDCL’s digital transformation agenda and comes as the state‑owned utility consolidates its role following the end of Umeme’s 20‑year electricity distribution concession earlier this year.

UEDCL officially took over full control of electricity distribution on April 1st 2025, when the then “YAKA” prepaid system was rebranded to “UEDCL Light” on mobile money menus.

The new UEDCL Light app aims to provide customers with a single platform to access a range of services previously offered through multiple channels or via third‑party systems. Among its key features, the app allows users to:

• Query previously purchased electricity tokens to check balances and token history.
• Estimate electricity bills for budgeting and planning.
• Report power outages directly to UEDCL for faster response.
• Apply for new electricity connections without the need to visit service centres in person.
• Locate UEDCL service centres and access contact information.
• Verify UEDCL staff legitimacy to protect against fraud.
• View information about ongoing campaigns and customer support resources.

UEDCL says the app was developed to reduce the barriers ordinary Ugandans face when interacting with electricity services, especially in rural and peri‑urban areas where travelling long distances to service centres can be costly and time‑consuming.

“This is part of UEDCL’s broader strategy to deepen digital engagement, strengthen customer experience and make electricity services more efficient and user‑friendly,” said Jonan Kizza the UEDCL Head of Corporate and Stakeholder affairs.

The utility’s 2024‑2025 strategic plan highlights digital platforms and customer engagement as key focus areas to improve service delivery.

The app’s introduction is expected to benefit customers on multiple fronts including;

• Greater convenience: Customers no longer need to rely solely on USSD codes or physical visits to purchase electricity tokens or lodge complaints.
• Faster outage reporting: By reporting outages through the app, users can help UEDCL respond more quickly to faults and reduce the duration of power interruptions.
• Improved transparency: The ability to check past token purchases and estimate future bills aids budgeting for households and small businesses.
• Enhanced safety: The staff verification feature helps customers avoid scams, a notable issue in the sector. (While unrelated to the app itself, reports on fraudulent calls to electricity customers underscore the value of verification tools.)

Under previous management (UMEME), customers relied primarily on the YAKA prepaid system accessed via mobile money USSD codes, third‑party agents and bank partners. While this system allowed token purchases, it lacked the centralised digital interface and broader service options that UEDCL Light App offers.

With the new app, customers can do much more than purchase electricity — they can get support, apply for services, and interact with the utility in one place.

This digital shift reflects UEDCL’s effort to modernise the sector and differentiate its service delivery from the previous concession model. By integrating service requests, outage reporting, billing and new connection applications into a single platform, the utility is setting a new benchmark for customer‑centric electricity services in Uganda.

However, the utility’s broader transition has not been without challenges on the ground, including occasional service disruptions and mixed consumer feedback since the handover from Umeme. Nonetheless, many customers have welcomed the continuity of services and the new digital tools that aim to simplify electricity management.