Since the shift from Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) in 2003 to West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo) and Electromax up until June 2024 and subsequent production and distribution on the National Grid, Obongi District remains unconnected to any single electricity pole.
Residents of Obongi District have raised concerns about the lack of electricity, a situation that has persisted despite several transformations in West Nile's power sector. Since the shift from Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) in 2003 to West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo) and Electromax up until June 2024 and subsequent production and distribution on the National Grid, Obongi District remains unconnected to any single electricity pole.
During a tour of the West Nile sub-region in April 2023, President Yoweri Museveni assured the people of Obongi that the district would be fully connected to the National Grid. On August 3, 2024, President Museveni commissioned the 132/33kV power substations at Arua and Nebbi, which connected only those two districts in West Nile to the National Grid, leaving Obongi still in the dark.
Twalib Ismail, proprietor of Best Choice Consults Limited, which deals in branding and graphic design in Obongi Town Council, explained that the lack of electricity is forcing business operators to quit due to high operational costs.
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Ismail Gift Mansur, chairperson of the Local Council Three of Obongi Town Council, noted that Obongi, predominantly known for fishing, has lost its once-thriving economic activity. Farmers and business proprietors cannot afford the costs of solar energy or generators to run equipment for preserving fish and other perishables.
Mansur added that the district is missing out on significant revenue because businesses cease operations at dusk, unlike in other places where they can run both day and night.
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Hakim Ayimani, a youth from Black Life, a loose group of jobless youths in Obongi Town Council, highlighted how the lack of electricity not only stifles district development but also limits opportunities for the youth. He noted that, despite having a laptop to learn new skills, he cannot use it efficiently due to the lack of power and the high cost of solar energy.
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Obongi District's headquarters currently rely on solar power. However, when there is insufficient sunshine, solar power fails, affecting essential services such as communication and secretarial work.
Habib Buga, the Obongi District Chairman, emphasized that the absence of electricity is hindering both schools and businesses, from small-scale to large-scale operations.
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Benson Humphrey Otim, the Obongi Chief Administrative Officer, stated that the district has missed numerous investment opportunities due to the lack of electricity, which he considers a fundamental energy source for regional transformation.
In 2021, the Uganda Investment Authority identified power generation, distribution, and industrialization as among the 14 untapped investment opportunities in Obongi, citing the district's proximity to the River Nile as a key advantage for cheap energy ventures.
As of December 2022, the Electricity Regulatory Authority reported that Uganda had an installed electricity capacity of 1,402 megawatts (MW) while demand was at 843 MW, leaving a surplus of 559 MW.
