UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has initiated measures to reduce instances in which tenants are charged inflated electricity fees by landlords, officials said. The action responds to reports from renters and small businesses that some property owners are imposing excessive fees under the guise of electricity billing.
UEDCL Managing Director Paul Mwesigwa said the utility is accelerating the installation of individual meters for multi-tenant buildings where infrastructure permits. Individual metering ensures that each unit’s power use is measured separately, allowing electricity bills to reflect actual consumption recorded by the meter rather than estimates or landlord-determined allocations.
Under the previous arrangement in many older residential and commercial buildings, a single bulk meter served multiple units. Landlords or building managers were responsible for dividing the overall bill among tenants. Once tenants raised concerns that allocations did not always match actual usage and in some cases far exceeded standard distributor tariffs, UEDCL and the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) reviewed practices and procedures governing how electricity charges are passed on to occupants.
ERA, the sector regulator, has clarified that electricity tariffs should be applied at the utility’s published unit cost, without additional mark-ups imposed by third parties. Officials pointed out that when power is individually metered, each tenant receives a bill based on genuine consumption at the official rate, removing the need for landlords to make internal allocations that can lead to disputes.
In response to tenant complaints, UEDCL technicians have begun upgrading metering points in select high-density areas. The upgrades involve installing or reconfiguring infrastructure so that separate meters can feed individual units within a building. Where technical limitations prevent immediate meter separation, UEDCL has advised landlords and occupants on interim arrangements that align with official billing standards.
Tenants and small business operators in Kampala, Jinja and other urban centres have reported paying significant sums for electricity despite limited consumption, particularly in older arcades and residential complexes with shared metering. UEDCL’s metering initiative is expected to reduce such discrepancies and enhance billing transparency.
ERA has also issued reminders to property owners and managers about compliance requirements. Landlords who retain control of a single meter for multiple tenants are required to ensure billing aligns with distributor tariffs and documented usage data. Failure to apply standard tariff rates may lead to enforcement actions.
UEDCL said its efforts to expand individual metering are part of broader improvements in electricity distribution aimed at increasing accountability, improving service quality and protecting end users. The company has pledged to work with local authorities, landlords and community representatives to roll out metering upgrades and educate consumers on their rights under existing electricity regulations.
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