Uganda’s electricity tariffs for the fourth quarter of 2026 have been approved, setting out the rates that consumers will pay for electricity used between October and December 2026.
The Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) has approved a new schedule of electricity end-user tariffs to be charged by the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL).
The tariff schedule, dated October 1, 2026, covers electricity consumed during the October–December 2026 billing period.
According to ERA, the approved tariffs were determined after considering several economic and energy-sector factors, including the exchange rate of the Uganda shilling against the US dollar, the Consumer Price Index, Uganda’s energy generation mix and international fuel prices.
New domestic electricity tariffs
For ordinary domestic consumers, the tariff applies to low-voltage, single-phase electricity supplied at 240 volts.
The domestic tariff is divided into consumption bands, meaning the rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) varies depending on the amount of electricity consumed.
For the fourth quarter of 2026, the approved domestic rates are:
| Consumption band | Tariff per kWh |
|---|---|
| First 15 units – Lifeline tariff | USh 250.0 |
| Units 16–80 | USh 562.1 |
| Units 81–150 | USh 363.8 |
| Above 150 units | USh 423.9 |
The rates are listed under the domestic consumer category, Code 10.1.
The first 15 units are covered by the lifeline tariff at USh 250 per kWh. However, the lifeline tariff does not automatically apply to every household.
According to the tariff notice, it applies to domestic consumers whose rolling monthly average consumption over the previous six months does not exceed 100 kWh.
This means households need to consider their electricity consumption over time when determining whether they qualify for the lifeline arrangement.
How much will households pay?
The amount a household spends on electricity will depend on the number of units it consumes and the applicable tariff bands.
For example, a household using relatively little electricity may remain within the lower consumption bands, while a household with higher consumption will have additional units charged at the applicable rates.
Consumers should therefore look beyond the price of a single unit and consider their total monthly consumption.
What determines electricity tariffs?
ERA considers several economic and energy-sector variables when reviewing electricity tariffs.
For the October–December 2026 tariff period, the parameters include the Uganda shilling-to-US dollar exchange rate, the core Consumer Price Index, international fuel prices and the country’s energy generation mix.
The tariff document gives an exchange rate of USh 3,770 to the US dollar, based on the mid-rate published by the Bank of Uganda on August 31, 2026.
It also lists a core Consumer Price Index of 141.98 and an international fuel price of US$86.44 per barrel.
According to the document, the Consumer Price Index figure was published by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics for August 2026, while the fuel price was based on the OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report for September 2026.
These parameters form part of the basis for determining the electricity end-user tariffs for the quarter.
Tariffs for businesses and industries
The approved schedule covers more than household consumers. It provides different tariff categories for commercial, industrial and other electricity users.
Commercial consumers are classified under Code 10.2 and include three-phase, low-voltage consumers with a load not exceeding 100 amperes.
Medium industrial consumers are divided into manufacturing and service-sector categories. Medium industrial manufacturing consumers fall under Code 20.1, while medium consumers in the service sector are classified under Code 20.2.
These categories use low-voltage electricity at 415 volts and have a maximum demand of up to 500 kVA.
For larger users, the tariff schedule provides separate categories for large industrial and large service consumers.
Large industrial manufacturing consumers are classified under Code 30.1. They receive electricity at 11,000 volts or 33,000 volts and have a maximum demand exceeding 500 kVA but not more than 1,500 kVA.
Large service consumers fall under Code 30.2 and operate within the same voltage and maximum-demand range.
The schedule also provides for extra-large electricity consumers.
Extra-large industrial manufacturing consumers are classified under Code 40.1. They are supplied at 11,000 volts or 33,000 volts and have an average demand of at least 1,500 kVA.
Extra-large consumers in the service sector fall under Code 40.2, with the tariff schedule specifying an average demand of at least 20,000 kVA.
For some large consumers, the tariff structure includes different charges depending on applicable generation-capacity conditions. The schedule also provides peak, shoulder and off-peak periods for certain categories.
Public services and other categories
The fourth-quarter tariff schedule also covers public amenities and specific public services.
These include public hospitals, institutional cooking and street lighting provided by municipalities, cities and towns.
The schedule also provides for a cooking tariff, demonstrating that the electricity tariff structure extends beyond individual households and private businesses.
Different consumers are classified according to factors such as their electricity demand, type of activity, voltage of supply and connection characteristics.
What consumers need to know
For ordinary households, electricity consumption remains the most important factor in determining the amount paid each month.
Consumers should keep track of their monthly units and understand which tariff bands apply to their consumption.
The lifeline tariff also has a specific eligibility condition based on the consumer’s rolling monthly average over the previous six months.
Businesses, meanwhile, are charged according to the category under which they fall. A small commercial consumer, for example, is treated differently from a manufacturing company with substantial electricity demand.
The approved tariffs apply to electricity consumed from October through December 2026. The detailed fourth-quarter 2026 tariff review and schedule are issued by the Electricity Regulatory Authority.
For households, the key figures are the USh 250 per kWh lifeline rate for the first 15 units for eligible consumers, USh 562.1 per kWh for units 16–80, USh 363.8 per kWh for units 81–150, and USh 423.9 per kWh for consumption above 150 units.
The tariff schedule will apply through December 2026, after which a new tariff period will take effect.
For consumers and businesses alike, understanding the applicable tariff category and monitoring electricity consumption will be important in managing power costs during the final quarter of 2026.
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