Uganda energy mix & electricity
In 2024, Uganda generated 5.8 TWh of electricity. Hydropower provides 86.1% of it. Few countries depend so heavily on a single source.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 5 | 86.1% | −2.8 |
| Bioenergy | 0.47 | 8.1% | +0.7 |
| Oil | 0.17 | 2.9% | +0.1 |
| Solar | 0.17 | 2.9% | +2 |
| Total | 5.81 | 100% |
Uganda: electricity in context
In 2024, Uganda generated 5.8 TWh of electricity. That puts it in the same league as Cyprus. Hydropower provides 86.1% of it. Few countries depend so heavily on a single source.
Renewables supplied 97.1% of the electricity, which ranks Uganda 12th of 158 countries (in the top quarter). That is 63 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Africa (24.7%). The carbon intensity of electricity is 59 g CO₂e/kWh; the global average is 458 g/kWh. That makes it one of the cleanest power grids anywhere. In the cleanest-grid ranking, Uganda is 16th of 158.
Since 2014, hydropower has added the most generation in absolute terms (+2.1 TWh), yet its share of the mix fell by 2.8 percentage points because other sources grew even faster. In share terms the biggest gainer was solar power (up 2 percentage points). Overall, the renewable share has barely moved over ten years (a change of under one percentage point).
Coal has essentially never been burned for electricity here: its share has stayed below 1% throughout the record.
Solar (2.9%) and wind (0%) now add up to 2.9% of generation; the global figure is 17.3%.
Generation per person is 116 kWh a year, 3% of the world average of 3,860 kWh. More power leaves the country than arrives: a net 440 GWh of exports, equal to 8% of domestic demand.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Uganda against the world and Africa averages.
Power plants in Uganda
The 11 power plants recorded in Uganda add up to 0.8 GW of capacity, 86% of it Hydro. The largest is Bujagali Falls at 250 MW. The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bujagali Falls | Hydro | 250 | — | — |
| 2 | Kiira | Hydro | 205 | — | — |
| 3 | Narubale | Hydro | 180 | — | — |
| 4 | Lugogo Substation | Oil | 50 | — | — |
| 5 | Kabulasoke | Solar | 24 | — | — |
| 6 | Kakira Sugar Works | Biomass | 12 | — | — |
| 7 | Bugoye | Hydro | 11 | — | — |
| 8 | Mubuku-3 | Hydro | 11 | — | — |
| 9 | Ishasha River | Hydro | 10 | — | — |
| 10 | Soroti | Solar | 10 | — | — |
| 11 | Tororo | Solar | 10 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 11 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Uganda
30 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 121 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 814 MW under construction or planned.
How does Uganda compare?
Uganda next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uganda | 97.1% | 97.1% | 2.9% | 59 | 116 | 5.8 | — | |
| DR Congo | 100% | 100% | 0% | 28 | 146 | 15.9 | Compare | |
| Kenya | 90% | 90% | 10% | 95 | 244 | 14 | Compare | |
| Tanzania | 32.9% | 32.9% | 67.1% | 345 | 129 | 8.8 | Compare | |
| Rwanda | 49.6% | 49.6% | 50.4% | 354 | 79 | 1.1 | Compare | |
| South Sudan | 1.8% | 1.8% | 98.2% | 643 | 47 | 0.6 | Compare | |
| Burundi | 75.5% | 75.5% | 24.5% | 184 | 35 | 0.5 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Uganda
Uganda energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Uganda is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Uganda?
How clean is the electricity in Uganda?
Does Uganda have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Uganda use per person?
How much solar power does Uganda produce?
Does Uganda import electricity?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.