Access to Capital: Off-grid Sector Boom under Electricity Access Scale-up Project

Driven by targeted public investment and private sector engagement under the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP), Uganda’s Off-grid sector has recorded commendable progress with over 119,000 offgrid connections under the project to-date, and further scale-up anticipated. As the country works towards universal electricity access by 2030, offgrid solutions are expected to play a central role, particularly in areas beyond the reach of the national grid. This session will explore how Uganda’s offgrid market is evolving under the EASP framework, examining emerging opportunities, implementation challenges, and the broader enabling environment needed to sustain the momentum generated by the project.

Financing Commitments: Transforming Uganda’s Clean Cooking Outlook

Access to clean cooking remains one of Uganda’s most pressing yet underfunded energy challenges. Enterprises struggle to access affordable capital, consumers face high upfront costs, and large-scale public investment in research, infrastructure, and market development has been insufficient. Bridging this gap requires bold, targeted financing commitments from government, development partners, financial institutions, and private investors to unlock the sector’s potential. This session will spotlight the role of finance in catalyzing clean cooking scale-up and shaping a new trajectory for the sector. It will bring together key stakeholders—including government agencies, donors, investors, commercial banks, impact funds, and clean cooking companies—to discuss existing financial barriers, share successful financing models, and explore new investment opportunities. Discussion themes will include results-based financing, carbon finance, public-private partnerships, consumer subsidies, enterprise grants, and innovative credit mechanisms. The session will also explore how Uganda can align domestic and international financing with its national energy and climate goals, including the Energy Transition Plan and Sustainable Development Goal 7.

Clean Cooking Subsidies: Experiences and Challenges of Result Based Financing Model

The use of subsidies by development finance institutions (DFIs) can often be contentious due to their ability to distort markets. Results-Based Financing (RBF) has emerged as a commonly used subsidy mechanism, designed to tie disbursements to verified outcomes. However, ensuring that subsidies are used efficiently, the level of subsidy is appropriate (provides value for money) without distorting the market remains a challenge. It is instructive therefore to examine the practical approaches/frameworks that there are for effectively delivering subsidies to private sector entities for development purposes. This session will consist of private sector actors discussing subsidy design, business models and their impacts on their businesses and organizations as well as their preferences in designing subsidies by DFIs.

Financial Inclusion: Women and Youth Energy Entrepreneurs’ Discourse

Women and youth are increasingly recognized as critical players in Uganda’s energy space, not just as consumers but as sources of innovative energy solutions. Yet, their ability to scale and thrive in the energy ecosystem is often limited by several barriers, key among which is limited access to finance. These groups continue to experience constrained access to affordable credit and other financial services. This session aims to bring to the forefront the voices, experiences, and aspirations of women and youth engaged in the energy access space. It provides a platform for dialogue on how to improve access to finance, design inclusive financial products, and unlock capital for sustainable, community-driven energy ventures.The session will also include representatives from financial institutions and development partners, who will highlight successful financing models that are gender-just and youth-responsive.

Transforming Livelihoods through Nature and Energy Finance for Climate Action

As Uganda intensifies efforts to address climate change and build resilience, the convergence of nature-based solutions and renewable energy presents a powerful pathway for transformative action. From forest conservation and landscape restoration to clean cooking, solar irrigation, and off-grid electrification, these interventions not only mitigate emissions and adapt to climate risks but also offer tangible benefits to local livelihoods. However, unlocking the full potential of nature and energy solutions requires a robust financing ecosystem—one that is inclusive, innovative, and aligned with national development priorities. Climate finance, carbon markets, green bonds, and blended finance instruments are emerging as critical tools to mobilize resources at the scale and speed needed. Yet, access to such financing remains limited for many communities, local enterprises, and civil society actors driving change on the ground.

This session will discuss how targeted financing can accelerate the uptake of nature-based and energy-focused climate solutions in Uganda. It will bring together stakeholders from government, climate funds, financial institutions, carbon project developers, community organizations, and private sector actors to share insights, opportunities, and lessons learned. Key discussion areas will include access to carbon finance for local projects, investing in community-led conservation and clean energy initiatives, and designing financial instruments that bridge the gap between grassroots action and global capital. The session will also examine how climate finance can be structured to deliver co-benefits—supporting both environmental protection and livelihood enhancement.

Numbers Don’t Lie: Successes of Result based financing Model from the Implementers’ Perspective

In a bid to incentivize the provision of energy services, create, expand market, or stimulate innovation, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and her partners have been promoting Result based financing (RBF) incentives, a form of payment by Results approach. RBF has been tagged to new electricity connections, clean cooking and productive use of energy services, efficient use of resources, and market development by providing incentives and reducing risks. The success stories in the implementation of RBF have overcome a number of obstacles such as complex monitoring and evaluation, ensuring timely disbursement of funds, managing data protection and sustainability. This session, therefore, will bring together implementers of RBF to share experiences, proven strategies, and lessons learnt implementing RBF incentives.

Sustainably Energizing Refugee and Host Communities Amidst Funding Cuts

In refugee and host communities, households continue to depend on harmful energy sources such as charcoal, firewood, kerosene, plastics, and diesel generators. Energy access is often overlooked by humanitarian actors, and when addressed, the response tends to focus on freely distributed, low-quality solutions that do not foster sustainability. Access to energy is essential if we are to provide the most vulnerable populations with electricity, sustainable cooking technologies, clean water, and economic opportunities. The Sustainable Energy Response Plan (SERP) for Refugee and Host Communities complements the holistic approach of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and sets a precedent by integrating refugees into national energy planning, thereby emphasizing the importance of energy access for an effective response within the Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus. However, 2025 has seen a sharp decline in global funding for humanitarian and development assistance, with further cuts expected. This shrinking resource envelope threatens to deepen energy poverty in refugee settings and puts at risk critical initiatives such as woodlot management and the deployment of energy-efficient technologies. This session will explore practical strategies to sustain clean energy access for refugee and host communities despite funding constraints, drawing on real-world experiences from humanitarian actors in the field.

Affirming UK-Ugandan Collaborations in Energy Access

The imperative to accelerate clean energy access in Uganda, particularly in rural and underserved communities, necessitates robust international partnerships, with collaborations between the United Kingdom and Uganda emerging as pivotal in addressing this critical developmental challenge. The United Kingdom has for years been a longstanding development partner to Uganda, with energy access as a key area of collaboration. Through the provision of both technical assistance and targeted financing, the United Kingdom is supporting Uganda’s clean energy goals by enabling off-grid, mini-grid and clean cooking solutions, improving regulatory environments, and stimulating enterprise development in the clean energy sector. This session is crafted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the past and ongoing clean energy initiatives in Uganda, particularly highlighting ongoing strategic alliances with the United Kingdom, and emphasizing how these collaborations can be a catalyst for significant advancements in the energy sector.

Delivering Clean Energy at a Time of Global Funding Crisis  

Uganda is committed to expanding clean energy access through a mix of grid and off-grid solutions. Achieving its national targets for universal access depends significantly on support from international development partners such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, GIZ, and the French Development Agency, who fund key interventions outlined in the Energy Policy and Transition Plans. However, since 2024, the global development finance landscape has faced major cuts, with further cuts foreseen in coming years. This poses serious risks to ongoing and planned clean energy efforts. Yet, the demand for clean energy continues to grow as traditional energy sources become more strained due to unsustainable use and a rapidly increasing population. This session will explore practical and innovative strategies for delivering clean energy to last-mile communities and sustaining Uganda’s energy transition amidst tightening global financial support.

Stocktaking of the Electricity Access Scale-up Project: Achievements and Lessons

The EASP was developed with the objective of increasing access to energy for households, commercial enterprises and public institutions. Financial Inter-mediation component of the project provides credit support instruments for end user financing, working capital facilities, result based grants, capacity building, electrification of public schools and hospitals, productive use of energy, among others. This session will constitute a panel of key actors in the EASP to share progress, testimonies and forthcoming intervention of the project.

Updates on Green Hydrogen Production and Prospects for East Africa

Green hydrogen has potential applications across several important sectors in East Africa, including industry, transport, and power. Green hydrogen is a versatile feedstock in the chemical industry, specifically for the production of ammonia (used in nitrogen fertilizers) and methanol. Additionally, green hydrogen can play a role in decarbonizing the road transport sector, and its derivatives can decarbonize shipping (via ammonia or methanol) and aviation (via sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)). Furthermore, green hydrogen offers a means of energy storage and can provide baseload power in the electricity sector. However, to accelerate the establishment of a green hydrogen industry in the region, it is crucial to prioritise those specific applications of hydrogen that not only yield significant advantages for the region but also align with its overarching developmental objectives and broader development goals. Concurrently, these applications should demonstrate the highest potential for short-term commercial viability. This session will attract key actors in the green hydrogen value chain to discuss the potential socio-economic impacts of green hydrogen production in the East African region.

Economic Transformation: PUE in Agri-business

Productive Use of Energy (PUE) is increasingly recognized as a game-changer for transforming Uganda’s agriculture sector from subsistence to commercial scale with various applications across the agricultural value chain. Despite its transformative potential, the uptake of PUE technologies in Uganda’s agri-business sector remains limited. Key barriers include high upfront costs, lack of access to appropriate financing, weak rural energy infrastructure, limited awareness of available technologies, and insufficient coordination between energy and agricultural development programs. Unlocking the full potential of PUE requires a multi-sectoral approach that integrates energy access with agricultural value chains, enterprise development, and financial inclusion.

In this session, key stakeholders from government, private sector, development agencies, and farmer organizations will explore the role of PUE in catalyzing agricultural transformation and inclusive economic growth. The session will highlight past and ongoing interventions, examine policy and market barriers, and propose strategies to scale up adoption of energy-enabled agri-business solutions across Uganda. By linking clean energy with agri-business development, this session aims to demonstrate how Uganda can move beyond energy access to energy-enabled productivity and livelihoods, reaffirming the role of renewable energy as a driver of economic transformation.

A New Dawn for Biofuels Blending in Uganda: Living in the Dream

In July 2025, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development launched the biofuels blending program, marking the start of the mandatory blending of all petrol with 5% locally sourced ethanol (E5). Under the supervision of the National Biofuels Committee and guided by the Biofuels Act of 2020 and Biofuels Regulations of 2022, the program is reducing emissions by reducing fuel imports, creating alternative markets for agricultural produce used to make ethanol while enhancing the country’s energy security. This session will convene the National Biofuels Committee alongside key actors in the biofuels sector to reflect on the program’s rollout and explore its cross-cutting implications for the economy, agriculture, transport, environment, and beyond.

What has Worked: Innovative Mini-grid Systems Management Experiences.

Mini-grids offer a promising solution for delivering reliable electricity to off-grid communities in Uganda. However, the sector continues to face significant financing and policy barriers, with most public and concessional funding still directed toward grid extension and solar home systems. Despite these challenges, several mini-grid developers and partners have pioneered innovative approaches in system design, management, and financing, unlocking new opportunities for scaling up deployment. This session will showcase practical experiences and models that have worked in Uganda’s mini-grid space. From creative financing strategies to effective community engagement and operational efficiencies, the discussion will draw lessons from successful mini-grid initiatives and the factors that have contributed to their success, reflect on the remaining investment barriers and explore how future strategies, such as leveraging climate finance and tapping into local financial institutions, can build on these successes.

E-Mobility Landscape: The Present and Future Prospects

On average, Uganda emits 4.9 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. Combined, the transport and agriculture sectors represented 62% of national emissions in 2000 and are projected to represent 70% by 2030 under a ‘business as usual’ scenario. The transport sector is particularly vulnerable to potential disruptive events caused by climate change. Transport energy is a vast and costly consumer of energy, carbon emitter, and fatal polluter in the global south. Amid these challenges, a surge in electric mobility innovation is unfolding. Startups are increasingly offering electric vehicles that are not only cleaner but also more affordable to own and operate. This session will explore the evolving e-mobility landscape in Uganda by reviewing current trends, assessing future prospects, and identifying the carbon savings, policy reforms, and financing strategies needed to drive large-scale adoption.

SOLCO Partnership: Stocktaking of Solar Electric Cooking in Humanitarian Settings

Clean and reliable cooking solutions remain a critical challenge in Uganda’s humanitarian settings. Traditional cooking fuels like charcoal and firewood have become increasingly costly, causing environmental and economic strain. In Uganda, 95% of the refugee and hosting communities rely on biomass as their primary cooking and lighting fuel. The potential of solar-powered electric cooking offers a sustainable pathway forward. The Solar-Electric Cooking Partnership (SOLCO), a multi-stakeholder partnership is committed to enabling access to affordable and clean e-cooking solutions in humanitarian contexts globally. In Uganda, SOLCO is spearheaded by Mercy Corps with the support of partners such as the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development (MEMD), Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), UNEP, GPA, GeCCo, IKEA Foundation, Last Mile Climate, as well as over 20 private sector companies, refugee-led organizations, and financial institutions. SOLCO Uganda aims to enable at least 150,000 households in refugee-hosting districts to access solar electric cooking by 2027 and welcomes additional partners to join and support this mission.  The session will reflect on early experiences and lessons from initiatives aimed at piloting and scaling solar e-cooking in displacement-affected areas. Convened under the SOLCO Partnership, the session will bring together humanitarian agencies, clean energy providers, donors, refugee representatives, and private energy companies to share field experiences, challenges, and innovations.

Off-grid PURE Solutions and Business Cases: Smallholder Farmers and Micro-Enterprises

Smallholder farmers and micro-enterprises are the backbone of Uganda’s rural economy, providing livelihoods, food security, and local economic activity across the country. However, limited access to reliable and affordable energy continues to constrain their productivity, competitiveness, and ability to scale. In areas beyond the reach of the national grid, off-grid renewable energy solutions have emerged as a critical enabler of economic transformation.

When targeted to smallholders and micro-enterprises, PURE can unlock new business models, reduce post-harvest losses, add value to agricultural outputs, and create jobs. In this session, participants will explore how innovative off-grid energy solutions are being deployed to support rural livelihoods and enterprise development in Uganda. It will showcase successful business cases, highlight field experiences, and facilitate knowledge exchange among practitioners, policymakers, financiers, and entrepreneurs. Discussion themes will include appropriate technology options, financing mechanisms, enterprise development, market access, and enabling policy frameworks. The session will also examine how partnerships across the agriculture, energy, and finance sectors can strengthen the PURE ecosystem and drive scale.

Circular Economy : Cradle-to-Grave to Cradle-to-Cradle Approach

Countries in the global south, especially in Sub-saharan Africa continue to grapple with major challenges in waste management, with most countries, including Uganda still practicing conventional landfilling, with minimal recovery of waste resources, characteristic of a linear cradle-to-grave approach. Uganda has recently undergone transformation in the waste landscape following the increased demand from the public for improved waste management services. One emerging response is circular economy or the cradle-to-cradle approach where would-be waste is kept in use through reuse, refurbishment or recycling, thereby maximizing resource utilization, reducing environmental impact and creating new economic opportunities. This session will bring together experts to examine the potential of a circular economy in Uganda, exploring current constraints, identifying key opportunities, and proposing targeted interventions to support a successful transition from linear to circular systems.

Electrifying Every Household: Prioritizing Mini-Grids in the Unserved Areas

Minigrids have become a key component in Uganda’s efforts to achieve universal electricity access under the National Electrification Strategy. They provide access to electricity in areas where grid extension is delayed or not economically viable. Uganda’s mini-grid market has seen commendable growth, with over 45 operational mini-grids countrywide. However, the market still faces challenges in terms of policy and regulatory frameworks, financing, and sustainability. The “Electrifying Every Household: Prioritizing Mini-Grids in the Unserved Areas” session will examine these challenges and identify pathways to accelerate mini-grid development. It presents the opportunity to explore recent developments in Uganda’s legal framework and regulations, and how these have catalysed mini-grid development. Delegates will  hear from government officials, developers, and other stakeholders about the successes and challenges of the sector, and gain insights into policy frameworks, challenges, and lessons learned. The session will also foster collaboration among stakeholders, with the aim of unlocking the full potential of Uganda’s mini-grid market.

Integrating Productive Use of Energy (PUE) and Electricity Access Interventions for Economic Boost

Efficient Productive Use of Energy (EPUE) is key to driving economic productivity across multiple sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services. EPUE refers to the use of energy-efficient technologies that enable income-generating activities, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce costs. On-grid and off-grid EPUE solutions, such as energy-efficient milk chillers, solar-powered irrigation systems, solar powered salon equipment, and cold storage facilities, have the potential to significantly boost productivity, raise incomes, and improve the competitiveness of businesses.

Despite these benefits, many EPUE providers and end-users face challenges that prevent their widespread adoption. Limited access to affordable capital, high upfront costs, unproven business models, high risk perceptions, distribution difficulties, regulatory barriers, and inadequate support for local businesses hinder the growth of both on-grid and off-grid EPUE. This session will bring together key stakeholders to explore how addressing financing challenges can accelerate EPUE adoption and drive economic productivity in Uganda. The session will focus on developing actionable solutions to overcome financing barriers, mobilize local and international capital, improve business models and create a supportive business environment to unlock EPUE’s potential for boosting economic productivity.

Seas of Change: Presenting Generative Agriculture and Productive Use of Renewable Energy (RA-PURE) Nexus

As Uganda advances its efforts toward sustainable development and climate resilience, the intersection of agriculture and renewable energy is emerging as a powerful driver of transformation. In this context, generative agriculture—an approach that emphasizes sustainability, soil regeneration, biodiversity, and climate-smart practices—offers a promising path toward more resilient and productive farming systems. When combined with the productive use of renewable energy (PURE), this approach can accelerate innovation, boost efficiency, and create new income opportunities for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs. The aim of this session is to explore the synergies between regenerative farming and decentralized energy solutions. The session will also examine the policy, financing, and capacity-building needs for scaling the RA-PURE nexus in Uganda. Stakeholders will share case studies of on-going and planned interventions with a hope of inspiring a “sea of change” in how Uganda envisions and implements integrated development solutions.

Sustainable Solarization of Health Care Facilities in Uganda

According to UNDP (2023), more than 50% of health facilities in Uganda lack access to reliable electricity. Over the past decade, numerous initiatives have been launched to solarize health centres using standalone systems, often supported by development partners and NGOs. While these efforts have delivered promising results, challenges remain in ensuring long-term sustainability. Many of the offgrid healthcare facilities continue to rely on small pico solar PV systems, frequently failing within a year or less. The current electrification landscape is dominated by scattered, undersized rooftop solar installations, many of which are no longer operational. In refugee-hosting communities, diesel generators are often the primary source of electricity, typically running for only 5 to 7 hours a day. This leaves staff and patients in the dark for most of the night, compromising the delivery of essential health services. The absence of a centralized strategy for healthcare electrification has led to fragmented and inefficient deployments. Decommissioned or malfunctioning components—such as solar panels, inverters, and batteries—are often abandoned at the facilities, with no clear end-of-life management plan. These non-operational systems are sometimes mistakenly perceived as backup solutions, further complicating the energy landscape in health service delivery.

This session will deliberate on progress made and lessons learned in powering the healthcare centres with solar energy and showcase scenarios where solar PV has competitively addressed health care needs compared to a diesel generator. It will also show the impact of reliable electricity on improving healthcare service delivery in health facilities and recommend a clear way forward for effective and sustainable delivery of healthcare electrification projects in the country.

Business Case for Energy Efficiency in the C&I Sectors in Uganda

The government and its partners have intensified interventions to promote energy efficiency in commercial and institutional sectors. Some business cases for energy efficiency fronted to demonstrate the financial and operational benefits of implementing energy-efficient measures within the C&I sectors,  highlighting the potential cost savings, reduced energy consumption, and environmental benefits that can be achieved through energy-efficient technologies, practices, and investments. The session will focus on C&I energy efficiency as a pathway to lowering production costs, enhancing competitiveness, and reducing emissions. It will feature case studies, policy approaches, and innovative financing solutions tailored for Uganda’s manufacturing and agro-processing sectors. This session will spotlight some of the successes, lessons and opportunities for energy efficiency in the C&I sectors.

Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Unlocking the Hidden Potential for Sustainable Urbanization

With the group population and agricultural activities, pressure on land is rapidly growing and likewise, the demand for energy is escalating. Specifically, electricity consumption is projected to grow at a rapid annual rate of 14%. This session explores how energy-efficient design, retrofitting, and smart technologies in buildings can significantly cut energy use and emissions. It will highlight best practices, policy frameworks, and financing models to mainstream efficient buildings in Uganda’s rapidly urbanizing landscape.

Launching National Clean Cooking Knowledge Management Systems

National Clean Cooking Management Systems are vital tools for organizing, sharing, and using information to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking solutions. These systems aim to improve access to clean cooking solutions by facilitating knowledge sharing among stakeholders, supporting evidence-based decision making and promoting the adoption of clean cooking technologies and practices. The National Renewable Energy Platform through its thematic area on Information and Knowledge Hub is developing a National Clean Cooking Knowledge Management System for Uganda complete with a web-based portal, mobile application and clean cooking atlas. This session will not only explore the key features of the system, but will also mark its official launch signaling the beginning of its rollout and active use across Uganda’s clean cooking ecosystem.

Teens’ Voices: Engaging Gen-Zs in Energy Transition Dialogue

Generation Z are the first generation to grow up fully-immersed in the internet and smartphones from a young age, making them highly skilled at accessing and processing digital information through a wide range of platforms. Unlike previous generations who relied heavily on traditional media such as radio, television and print media, Gen Z consumes content primarily through social media and interactive digital channels; their strong preference for short-engaging content necessitates a tailored approach to their engagement as they are constantly exposed to and often overwhelmed  with information. This session will explore how to effectively engage Gen Z in the national and global conversation on the energy transition. It will explore ways to not only inform them, but also to involve them in decision making and innovation, leveraging their creativity, digital fluency and fresh perspective to put Gen Z at the centre of shaping an inclusive, sustainable energy future.

World Research Institute: GIS session

Fourth Estate Catalysing Clean Energy Access and Climate Action

The media—often referred to as the Fourth Estate—plays a critical role in shaping public discourse, influencing policy, and driving accountability. In the context of Uganda’s energy transition and climate response, the media has the power to inform, educate, and inspire action among citizens, decision-makers, and development partners. Yet, coverage of clean energy and climate issues has not yet been prioritized, often under-resourced, and at times disconnected from the lived realities. As Uganda works toward expanding access to sustainable energy and strengthening climate resilience, there is a growing need for the media to engage more deeply with these topics. From investigative journalism that highlights gaps in service delivery, to human-interest stories that showcase local innovations, the Fourth Estate can act as a catalyst for awareness, behavior change, and inclusive policy development. This session will bring together key media practitioners, public relations officers, representatives of media houses, civil society organizations, and energy and climate experts to explore the role of media in advancing Uganda’s clean energy and climate goals. It will examine the challenges faced by media practitioners in covering these issues, share successful communication strategies, and identify opportunities to strengthen media capacity and collaboration with technical stakeholders.

End-user Voices: Leaving No One Behind in the Clean Cooking Campaign

One key reason is that the voices of end-users are still too often missing from the design, delivery, and evaluation of clean cooking solutions. Technologies are sometimes introduced without a deep understanding of user preferences, cultural practices, affordability constraints, or day-to-day realities. As a result, adoption rates remain low, and many interventions fail to achieve lasting impact. This session will bring the experiences, perspectives, and needs of end-users to the center of the clean cooking conversation. It will feature voices from diverse communities sharing their lived experiences with cooking energy and what it would take for them to transition to cleaner alternatives. In this session, discussants will use their native languages.

Demystifying Health Effects from Traditional Cooking Practices

It is estimated that over 700 million people living in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are dependent on polluting biomass fuels (such as wood and charcoal) for household cooking. The limited access to clean cooking globally contributes to 3.7 million premature deaths annually, with women and children most at risk. Indeed, poor indoor air quality is a leading cause of premature death worldwide. For instance, in Africa, women and children account for 60% of early deaths related to smoke inhalation and indoor air pollution. In Uganda, the World Health Organization estimated that 23,000 people, mostly women and children, lose lives annually from illnesses associated with poor cooking practices. Dirty cooking options contribute to respiratory complications and cardiovascular diseases, hence death. Unfortunately, the correlation between the health complications and dirty cooking options remains least pronounced in developing countries. Although clean cooking options have largely been perceived to be costly, several households spend significant amounts of money treating health complications emanating from the use of dirty cooking options. This session will attract public health, clean cooking and policy experts to discuss avenues of promoting clean cooking options leveraging their health and long-term financial benefits.

Annual District Local Government Sub-Regional Forum

Energy mainstreaming—integrating clean energy considerations into planning, budgeting, and coordination across various sectors at both Central and Local Government levels—is essential for enhancing access to clean energy. Over the past decade, the Sub-Regional Energy Forums have been held biannually to strengthen coordination among government levels, unite diverse stakeholders, and advance the decentralisation of the energy sector.

This year’s Sub-Regional Energy Forum, hosted once again during the Renewable Energy Conference, will focus on incorporating energy into district development plans. We are pleased to welcome Energy Focal Persons and Planners from 32 Local Governments, including three cities, along with officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Ministry of Local Government. Participants will engage in collaborative sessions designed to guide the development plans of the various local governments.

Attendance is by invitation only.

Overcoming Barriers: Local Governments’ Role in Productive Use of Energy Advancement

Uganda’s Decentralization Policy positions Local Governments as frontline actors in planning and delivering development services that directly impact communities. In the context of renewable energy, this local mandate creates a unique opportunity to advance the productive use of energy as a driver of local economic development. However, persistent barriers such as limited technical & administrative capacity, financing constraints, inadequate infrastructure and gaps in integrating energy into local development plans continue to stifle progress.This session will examine how local governments can overcome these barriers through  experience sharing, collaborative development of practical strategies and the examination of policy interventions that strengthen local governments’ ability to unlock the transformative potential of productive use of energy.

Breaking Barriers to Clean Cooking in Informal Settlements: Local Government Intervention Strategy

Despite being located within or near major urban centres, residents of informal settlements often struggle to access clean cooking solutions. Their unique position characterized by un-planned housing, limited formal recognition and a mismatch between conventional business models and community realities expose the residents of informal settlements to the risk of being left behind in the transition to modern energy cooking solutions.This session will explore the role of local government intervention in bridging this gap by tailoring interventions to the unique context of informal communities, the discussion will highlight practical strategies, innovative financing mechanisms, and targeted policies to expand access, including integrating clean cooking into local development plans, and piloting innovative delivery models.

Partnerships for Livelihood Transformation in Humanitarian Contexts

Uganda plays host to one of the largest refugee populations in Africa, with over 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers primarily settled in rural and underserved communities. These humanitarian settings face complex challenges, including limited access to clean energy, constrained economic opportunities, and high pressure on natural resources. For displaced populations and host communities alike, the lack of sustainable livelihoods and basic services deepens vulnerability. When effectively deployed, clean energy offers a powerful tool for transforming livelihoods in humanitarian contexts by powering health facilities, schools, water systems, and small businesses. However, realizing this potential requires strategic partnerships across sectors, including humanitarian actors, development agencies, government, private sector, and local communities.

This session will explore how collaborative approaches can scale the delivery of clean energy solutions that improve livelihoods and well-being in refugee-hosting districts. Discussions will centre around enabling the environment for such partnerships, including policy frameworks, financing models, and coordination mechanisms that align humanitarian response with long-term development goals. Special attention will be given to inclusive approaches that empower women and youth, strengthen local ownership, and foster peaceful co-existence between refugees and host communities.

Universities Making a Difference: Energy Science and Technology Works for Energy Sectoral Impact

Universities and research institutions in Uganda play a vital role in shaping the future of the country’s energy sector. As centers of knowledge generation, innovation, and capacity building, universities have the potential to drive technological advancements, inform policy, and equip the next generation of energy professionals. However, the full value of academic contributions often remains under-leveraged in mainstream energy development efforts. From renewable energy research and pilot demonstrations to the design of efficient technologies and data-driven policy advice, academic institutions are increasingly demonstrating that their work can generate real impact across the energy value chain. Yet gaps persist in translating research into action, connecting academia with industry, and aligning university outputs with national energy priorities. This discussion will expound on how Ugandan universities and research bodies can contribute to the country’s energy transition. Examples of innovations, applied research, and technology development initiatives that are shaping energy access, energy efficiency, and climate-smart solutions will be discussed. The session will bring together academic leaders, researchers, students, policymakers, private sector actors, and development partners to share experiences and identify strategies to strengthen the link between energy science and practical impact. Key areas of discussion will include academic-industry collaboration, research commercialization, curriculum alignment, and funding for energy research and innovation.

Decades of Support: Focus on Development Partners’ Interventions

Climate change threats coupled with energy poverty continue to endanger livelihoods in the global South. With a global North shift in funding for projects in the global South, several Sub-Saharan Africa countries are constrained by resources to meet the prevailing needs. Due to her good cooperation, Uganda continues to benefit from Development Partners’ support, particularly to its energy transition agenda. This panel session will consist of development partner representatives to discuss ways to address the current energy crisis and the long-term pathways to transition away from fossil fuels in emerging economies. The discussion will focus on the collaborative efforts of development partners in advancing Uganda’s energy sector amongst budget cuts. Key topics of discussion will include joint initiatives and projects in the renewable energy sector, lessons learned and best practices from ongoing projects and strategies for enhancing the impact of development cooperation in Uganda.

A Sincere Discourse on Energy Access and Affordability: Government’s Perspective

The government is responsible for setting the policy for the energy sector and proposing any changes to this statutory framework. Its clear role is to support policy issues such as decarbonization and operate within this framework. Where there are important policy gaps that affect consumers, the government comes through to address them. The government continually seeks to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its approach. This includes setting out the costs and benefits, as well as the social and environmental impacts, of all major decisions. It regulates only where necessary to protect consumers’ interests and carefully considers whether any regulatory requirement proposed is proportionate and to ensure market stability and affordability of products and services by the populace. It also carries out investigations into company behavior once believed to have breached a condition of their license, or the requirements of consumer protection, or competition legislation. This session will bring together government representatives from key departments and agencies regulating the energy sector activities to discuss government policies and strategies supporting clean energy access and affordability across the country.

High-Level Discourse on Uganda’s SDG7 Tracking: Heads of Mission

This session will bring together representatives from different foreign missions working to accelerate energy transition. The session will serve as a call to action to develop initiatives to advance energy transition, tracking their previous and ongoing support in line with the SDG7 targets. Discussion will focus on the strategic direction of international support in Uganda’s energy sector, focusing on policy alignment, funding mechanisms in acknowledgement of the global funding shift, and collaborative efforts to drive the country’s clean energy transition in accordance with the SDG 7 targets.

Stocktaking of the Off-Grid Sub-sector: Off-Grid Energy Working Group Convention

Uganda’s off-grid energy sub-sector has played a vital role in extending electricity access to households, enterprises, and institutions across the country. With the majority of the population living beyond the reach of the national grid, off-grid solutions such as solar home systems and mini-grids remain essential to achieving universal energy access and unlocking development.

The Off-Grid Energy Working Group (OGEWG), under the National Renewable Energy Platform (NREP), acts as a focal point for sharing experiences, knowledge, and information on off-grid energy solutions. It also tracks key regulatory and policy developments to ensure alignment with sector growth. The OGEWG Steering Committee Session will review the progress of both ongoing and Completed activities, while addressing the challenges encountered. The session will bring together key stakeholders from the off-grid energy sector, highlighting government and sector support for the off-grid access agenda. Additionally, it will outline critical priorities and explore potential partnerships for the task force.

Brief presentations will be delivered by the five subcommittees, covering the areas of Productive Use of Energy, Mini-Grids, Bioenergy, and Finance and Fiscal Incentives. High-level representatives from the Embassies of Sweden, Denmark, and NEFCO, as well as partners such as GIZ, USAID, MECS, Power for All and KfW, will participate. This session is a collaborative effort aimed at driving innovation and progress in the off-grid energy sector.

Charcoal Ban Bite: Prospects for Transitioning to Clean Energy 

In recent years, Uganda has faced mounting environmental degradation linked to the widespread production and use of charcoal. As forests continue to be depleted at alarming rates, the government has taken decisive steps, including regional bans on charcoal production and transportation, in a bid to curb deforestation and promote more sustainable energy alternatives. While these bans signal a growing political will to address environmental and climate concerns, they have also triggered widespread socio-economic impacts—disrupting livelihoods, creating energy access gaps, and highlighting the urgent need for viable, affordable, and scalable clean energy alternatives. Households, institutions, and small businesses, many of whom have relied on charcoal as a primary fuel, are now grappling with the reality of limited cooking energy options and increasing charcoal prices. This session will examine the implications of Uganda’s charcoal restrictions and explore practical pathways for transitioning to cleaner, more sustainable energy solutions—particularly in the cooking sector.

Cooking Transition: Taking Clean Cooking to Institutions

Discussions around Uganda’s energy transition are not complete without addressing the critical issue of clean cooking—particularly within public institutions such as schools, health centres, and prisons. These institutions are some of the largest consumers of traditional biomass fuels (firewood and charcoal), often relying on inefficient cooking technologies that drive deforestation, emit harmful pollutants, and place a significant strain on operational budgets. While the clean cooking agenda has gained momentum in the household sector, institutional cooking has received comparatively less attention—despite its outsized environmental, economic, and health impacts. This session will bring together administrators of different institutions, development partners, and civil society actors to discuss practical strategies, innovations, and financing models that can support the adoption of clean cooking technologies in institutional settings. The session will hear successful case studies of early adopters of clean cooking technologies at an institutional level, and explore how clean cooking solutions can be integrated into broader efforts to improve education, healthcare, and service delivery.

A Flooded Market in a Skeptical Community: How to Manage Clean Cooking Landscape

Uganda’s clean cooking sector has seen a surge in innovation and enterprise in the past few years, with a growing number of actors introducing improved cookstoves, alternative fuels, and modern energy cooking solutions such as LPG and electric cooking appliances. While this has expanded consumer choice and market visibility, it has also created a fragmented and often confusing landscape—especially for end-users. Many consumers remain skeptical of the promises made by clean cooking technologies, often due to inconsistent product quality, exaggerated marketing claims, lack of after-sales support, and high upfront costs. This skepticism is further compounded by deep-rooted cooking habits, limited awareness of health and environmental benefits, and the absence of clear standards and consumer protection mechanisms. As a result, uptake remains slow and uneven, despite the urgency to reduce reliance on biomass and improve public health and environmental outcomes.

This session will unpack the current state of the clean cooking market in Uganda and explore how to build trust, coherence, and sustainability in this vital sector. It will bring together stove manufacturers, fuel suppliers, consumer advocacy groups, regulators, development partners, and community leaders to reflect on market dynamics and user perceptions. The session will also feature experiences from the field and discuss approaches for ensuring that clean cooking solutions are not only available, but affordable, trusted, and widely adopted.

For How Long Should the Porous Borders Be Blamed: Addressing standards and quality of Cooking Technologies

Uganda’s clean cooking sector has witnessed a growing influx of technologies—ranging from improved biomass stoves to LPG and electric cooking appliances. However, the market is increasingly challenged by the presence of substandard products. These low-quality technologies often underperform, break down quickly, or fail to deliver promised benefits, leading to consumer distrust, health risks, and market distortion. For years, the blame for poor product quality has largely been placed on unregulated cross-border trade and weak enforcement. But porous borders are only one part of a much deeper issue—namely, the absence of a robust framework for product standards, certification, and consumer protection in the clean cooking space. Without clear national standards and consistent enforcement mechanisms, the sector remains vulnerable to fragmentation, misinformation, and stalled progress. This session will bring together regulators, testing institutions, clean cooking enterprises, and consumer groups with a view of shifting the quality and standards conversation beyond border control to address systemic changes necessary to build a clean cooking subsector rooted in quality, accountability, and consumer confidence.

Uganda Launched Carbon Financing Regulation: What is Left for the Clean Energy Sector to Thrive?

Uganda’s launch of the National Climate Change Regulations, 2025 marked a significant step toward unlocking climate finance and positioning the country to benefit equitably from global carbon markets. The regulations streamline the process of accessing global funds, mandate emission reduction plans for Uganda’s key sectors i.e., energy, agriculture and transport while introducing penalties for non-compliance by industries. However, several questions remain. How effectively the regulation is being implemented? Are Energy Service Companies (ESCos) equipped to participate? What gaps still need to be addressed in the realm of capacity, data systems and coordination? This session brings together policy makers, private sector players, and climate finance experts to reflect on Uganda’s carbon finance readiness and explore what is still needed for the clean energy sector to  harness this opportunity.

Lessons and Opportunities for Biodigester Market Development: A Tale from African Biogas Component Project

The African Biodigester Component (ABC), a successor to the Africa Biogas Partnership Program, is advancing access to sustainable energy while developing a viable, market-oriented biogas sector and creating low-carbon employment opportunities. The project takes a comprehensive approach, working across demand, supply, and the enabling environment to increase uptake and support private sector growth. In Uganda, the five-year ABC project set an ambitious target of installing 8,000 small-scale biodigesters. As it concludes operations in 2025, the project has generated a wealth of lessons, insights, and practical experiences critical to the future of biogas development in the country. This session will convene the implementers of the ABC project to reflect on what has worked, where challenges remain, and what opportunities lie ahead for scaling up biodigester adoption in Uganda and beyond.

Clean Energy Access and Climate action Nexus

Climate change is placing increasing pressure on energy systems, making energy security a central pillar of both adaptation and mitigation strategies. At the same time, developing countries face the dual challenge of expanding energy access and contributing meaningfully to global climate goals. Bridging the energy access gap through sustainable and affordable technologies is not only essential for socio-economic development, but also critical for enhancing climate resilience, reducing future emissions, and achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Africa is poised to be a major driver of future energy demand. Yet the region’s ability to meet this demand in a way that supports both development and environmental goals will depend on how effectively countries harness their diverse energy resources, both renewable and non-renewable. This session will spotlight the role of resilient energy systems in advancing climate action. It will bring together energy and climate planners to share experiences, examine persistent barriers, and identify integrated solutions to unlock progress at the energy-climate nexus.

Electricity Theft and Infrastructure Vandalism: Economic Sabotage and Security Threat

As Uganda expands its electricity infrastructure to support inclusive economic growth, improve service delivery, and enhance quality of life, threats to energy infrastructure are becoming a growing concern. Electricity theft and vandalism of power infrastructure—such as transformers, transmission lines, meters, and substations—pose serious risks to the country’s energy security, economic stability, and public safety. Electricity theft, whether through illegal connections or tampering with meters, leads to significant financial losses for utilities, disrupts power supply to paying customers, and undermines trust in the system. At the same time, vandalism of critical infrastructure not only results in costly repairs but can also cause extended blackouts, damage to equipment, and even loss of life. These acts are not simply criminal offenses—they are a form of economic sabotage that directly affects productivity, investor confidence, and the delivery of essential services such as health care, education, and public safety. They also present a growing security challenge, requiring coordinated responses from utility providers, law enforcement, communities, and policymakers. This session will examine the root causes, economic impact, and response strategies related to these challenges. It will bring together electricity utilities, security agencies, local governments, and regulators to share insights.

Clean Energy Transition: Critical Minerals and Supply Chains

The global shift toward clean energy is driving unprecedented demand for critical minerals, which are essential components in solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles, and other renewable energy technologies. For countries like Uganda, which are endowed with various mineral resources, this transition presents both a strategic opportunity and a complex challenge. On one hand, the extraction and responsible utilization of critical minerals can generate revenue, stimulate industrial growth, create jobs, and position Uganda as a key player in the global clean energy value chain. On the other hand, it raises important questions around environmental sustainability, community rights, governance, and the resilience of supply chains that are often exposed to geopolitical risks, market volatility, and unethical practices. This panel will discuss Uganda’s role in the critical minerals landscape and examine how the country can strategically position itself to benefit from the global energy transition. The discussion will touch on key topics such as local beneficiation and industrialization, transparency and traceability in supply chains, community engagement, trade and investment partnerships, and regional collaboration.

Energy Transition Amidst Global Geo-political Dynamics: Quest for Structural Transformation in Uganda

The global energy transition is unfolding against a backdrop of shifting geopolitical landscapes, climate imperatives, and technological disruption. As countries race to decarbonize their economies and secure access to clean energy technologies, new alliances are emerging, while supply chains, trade policies, and investment flows are being reshaped in profound ways. For Uganda, these global shifts present both opportunities and challenges. The country stands at a pivotal moment in its development journey—pursuing universal energy access, economic transformation, and climate resilience while navigating the uncertainties of a rapidly changing global energy order. Uganda’s path toward structural transformation will require bold and strategic choices in energy policy, infrastructure development, and international cooperation. In this session, policymakers, economists, and energy experts will assess Uganda’s positioning within the global energy transition. Discussions will examine how global trends such as energy security concerns and climate commitments are influencing Uganda’s energy landscape. The session will also reflect on how Uganda can build energy systems that are not only clean and reliable but also resilient to external shocks.

Business Environment Spotlight: Private Sector Voices

The growth and impact of the private sector are deeply influenced by the broader business environment. Issues such as regulatory consistency, taxation, access to finance, bureaucratic hurdles, and market fragmentation continue to affect the pace and scale at which private companies in the energy space can operate and expand. In particular, energy start-ups and local enterprises often face significant barriers that limit their ability to grow, attract capital, or reach last-mile customers. In this session, energy entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and business associations will share their experiences and recommendations for improving the enabling environment for clean energy access in Uganda, including ease of doing business, licensing and permitting processes, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration between government and the private sector.

Transparency and Regulations: Scaling Energy Projects in Tandem with Environmental Conservation

As Uganda accelerates efforts towards achieving universal energy access, the country is witnessing a growing pipeline of energy projects, including solar farms, hydropower dams and mini-grids. While these investments are essential to meeting national electrification goals, their development must be balanced with the protection of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the rights of affected communities. Too often, large-scale energy projects are implemented without sufficient transparency, environmental due diligence, or stakeholder consultation. This can lead to environmental degradation, loss of community trust, and delays due to legal or social resistance. At the same time, unclear or inconsistent regulatory frameworks can frustrate developers and limit the pace of project implementation, undermining investor confidence and sector growth. In this panel, regulators, energy developers, policymakers, and civil society will discuss how Uganda can build a more transparent, accountable, and environmentally responsible foundation for accelerating its energy sector growth, touching on key topics such as environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs), licensing procedures, public participation, grievance redress mechanisms, and inter-agency coordination.

In Her Voice: Women in Energy Sector Experiences

Africa leads the world in the number of women business owners, and women on the continent are more likely than men to become entrepreneurs. Yet in Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions, women remain significantly underrepresented in the energy sector, especially as entrepreneurs. In Uganda, for instance, women lead only about 30% of energy-related businesses, despite being at the forefront of household energy needs, particularly for cooking.Women are not only primary decision-makers in household energy choices, but also bear the brunt of energy scarcity and unaffordability. Their experiences, perspectives, and potential in shaping energy access and innovation remain largely untapped.This session will center the voices of women in the energy sector. It will explore their lived experiences, the barriers they face in entrepreneurship and energy access, and strategies for change. Discussions will highlight the role of financing, capacity building, and policy frameworks in enhancing women’s participation and leadership across the energy value chain.