news 5 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Uganda Gripped by Nationwide Blackout as National Grid Collapses
A widespread system failure on Uganda's national electricity grid plunged the country into darkness on Friday night, raising concerns about power stability just as state-led management takes over. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/total-darkness-in-uganda-national-grid-collapse-revives-fears-of-poor-power-service-5486752
Uganda experienced a total blackout on Friday night, June 5, 2026, when the national power grid suffered a massive system failure. The incident, which began at precisely 9:07 PM, has rekindled public unease regarding the reliability of electricity services in the country.
The Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) confirmed the collapse and stated that its technical teams were immediately dispatched to diagnose the problem and work towards restoring power. UETCL issued an apology for the significant inconvenience caused to the public.
The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), which handles power distribution, also alerted its customers to the outage, citing the transmission network as the cause. However, specific details surrounding the exact trigger of the failure remain elusive, with senior energy officials offering limited information.
While official statements were guarded, sources within the energy sector suggested a potential fault at the Owen Falls Dam (Nalubaale Power Station) in Jinja as the likely origin of the grid’s collapse. The Uganda Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) acknowledged the nationwide outage through a public notice.
This latest disruption comes at a critical time for Uganda, as the nation transitions to state-managed electricity distribution following the conclusion of Umeme’s two-decade concession. The departure of Umeme had been met with public optimism, with hopes pinned on UEDCL to deliver improved service, lower tariffs, and greater efficiency. However, the pervasive darkness serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades to ensure a stable and dependable power supply for all Ugandans.