Majority of rural dwellers willing to pay for grid connection – new study

A research study conducted by Makerere University Business School (MUBS) examining the readiness of rural households to transition to electricity use under Uganda’s Rural Electrification Programme. The study sampled 107 Enumeration Areas across Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western regions and found that 52% of non-grid households were willing to pay the upfront connection fee of UGX 140,000. The research revealed that willingness to pay is influenced by regional location, household wealth, education, marital status, assets, solar device ownership, and community influence. Despite Uganda generating more electricity than it consumes, the country’s electricity access rate of 28% remains below Sub-Saharan Africa’s average of 43%, with rural access at only 5%.